Immunological markers that correlate with protection immunity against tularemia infection

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2014:808:15-23. doi: 10.1007/978-81-322-1774-9_2.

Abstract

An efficient immune response to tularemia is dependent on a strong cell-mediated component. We tried to identify markers of cellular immune responses that indicate a vaccine efficacy against tularemia. BALB/c mice were immunized with mutant F. tularensis 15∆23A and/or F. tularensis 15 NIIEG strains and then were challenged i.n. with F. tularensis Schu. We compared the influence of F. tularensis antigens (tularinum) in vitro on production of IL-1, IL-5, IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNF-α by splenocytes obtained from intact mice and mice immunized with mutant F. tularensis 15∆23A and/or F. tularensis 15 NIIEG strains. We also compared expression of CD28, CD154, TLR-2, and CD69 markers on CD4 and CD8 T-cells after activation with tularinum in vitro. We found that tularinum-induced CD4(+) T-cells increased TNF-α and IFN-γ synthesis and expression of CD69 only in group mice with high degree of post immunization protection against F. tularensis Schu challenge. Estimation of CD69 expression on CD3(+)CD4(+) cells and IFN-γ, TNF-α synthesis by CD4(+) T-lymphocytes could be useful for determination protect ability of antitularemia immunity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Antigens, Bacterial / pharmacology
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Bacterial Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Francisella tularensis / immunology*
  • Gene Expression
  • Immunity, Cellular*
  • Immunization
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Interleukins / genetics
  • Interleukins / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / immunology
  • Tularemia / immunology
  • Tularemia / microbiology
  • Tularemia / prevention & control*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Vaccines, Attenuated

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Antigens, CD
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Biomarkers
  • Interleukins
  • Tlr2 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Vaccines, Attenuated
  • Interferon-gamma