Tocilizumab Induces IL-10-Mediated Immune Tolerance in Invasive Candidiasis.

The existence of a hyperinflammatory state has been observed in patients with invasive fungal infections (IFI). It is being postulated whether morbidity from IFI may, in part, be a consequence of an unnecessarily prolonged or exaggerated proinflammatory immune response including interleukin 6 (IL-6) post-infection, in a host with dysregulated or compromised immunity. This, in turn, induces collateral host injury at the tissue and organ level, leading to adverse outcomes. Tocilizumab has become widely used as an immunomodulator in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Here, we evaluated the use of tocilizumab to curb post-infective inflammatory flare in the setting of an in-vivo mouse model for invasive candidiasis. Following Candida infection, the tocilizumab-treated mice showed improved short-term survival compared with the saline-treated control mice. There was a reduced inflammatory response mounted by the host, coupled with reduced IL-6 but increased IL-10 levels. TNF-α and IFN-γ responses were not affected. Tocilizumab facilitated immune tolerance by selectively inducing IL-10, producing CD8α+ conventional dendritic cells (DCs) and peripheral T-regulatory cells, over CD11b+ conventional DCs and plasmacytoid DCs. We demonstrate here the sequelae from immunomodulatory manipulation and the basis whereby the use of monoclonal antibodies may be further explored in IFI.

Using Expanded Natural Killer Cells as Therapy for Invasive Aspergillosis.

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a major opportunistic fungal infection in patients with haematological malignancies. Morbidity and mortality rates are high despite anti-fungal treatment, as the compromised status of immune system prevents the host from responding optimally to conventional therapy. This raises the consideration for immunotherapy as an adjunctive treatment. In this study, we evaluated the utility of expanded human NK cells as treatment against Aspergillus fumigatus infection in vitro and in vivo. The NK cells were expanded and activated by K562 cells genetically modified to express 4-1BB ligand and membrane-bound interleukin-15 (K562-41BBL-mbIL-15) as feeders. The efficacy of these cells was investigated in A. fumigatus killing assays in vitro and as adoptive cellular therapy in vivo. The expanded NK cells possessed potent killing activity at low effector-to-target ratio of 2:1. Fungicidal activity was morphotypal-dependent and most efficacious against A. fumigatus conidia. Fungicidal activity was mediated by dectin-1 receptors on the expanded NK cells leading to augmented release of perforin, resulting in enhanced direct cytolysis. In an immunocompromised mice pulmonary aspergillosis model, we showed that NK cell treatment significantly reduced fungal burden, hence demonstrating the translational potential of expanded NK cells as adjunctive therapy against IA in immunocompromised patients.

Bimodal Influence of Vitamin D in Host Response to Systemic Candida Infection-Vitamin D Dose Matters.

Vitamin D level is linked to susceptibility to infections, but its relevance in candidemia is unknown. We aimed to investigate the in vivo sequelae of vitamin D3 supplementation in systemic Candida infection. Implicating the role of vitamin D in Candida infections, we showed that candidemic patients had significantly lower 25-OHD concentrations. Candida-infected mice treated with low-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 had reduced fungal burden and better survival relative to untreated mice. Conversely, higher 1,25(OH)2D3 doses led to poor outcomes. Mechanistically, low-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 induced proinflammatory immune responses. This was mediated through suppression of SOCS3 and induction of vitamin D receptor binding with the vitamin D-response elements in the promoter of the gene encoding interferon γ. These beneficial effects were negated with higher vitamin D3 doses. While the antiinflammatory effects of vitamin D3 are well described, we found that, conversely, lower doses conferred proinflammatory benefits in Candida infection. Our study highlights caution against extreme deviations of vitamin D levels during infections.

Jumonji demethylases moderate precocious flowering at elevated temperature via regulation of FLC in Arabidopsis.

As sessile organisms, plants have evolved multiple mechanisms to respond to environmental changes to improve survival. Arabidopsis plants show accelerated flowering at increased temperatures. Here we show that Jumonji-C domain-containing protein JMJ30 directly binds to the flowering-repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) locus and removes the repressive histone modification H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3). At elevated temperatures, the JMJ30 RNA and protein are stabilized, and FLC expression is maintained at high levels to prevent extreme precocious flowering. The double mutant of JMJ30 and its homologue JMJ32, grown at elevated temperatures, exhibits an early-flowering phenotype similar to the flc mutant, which is associated with increased H3K27me3 levels at the FLC locus and decreased FLC expression. Furthermore, ectopic expression of JMJ30 causes an FLC-dependent late-flowering phenotype. Taken together, JMJ30/JMJ32-mediated histone demethylation at the FLC locus constitutes a balancing mechanism in flowering control at warm temperatures to prevent premature early flowering.

Sulphonylurea usage in melioidosis is associated with severe disease and suppressed immune response.

BACKGROUND: Melioidosis is a problem in the developing tropical regions of Southeast Asia and Northern Australia where the the Gram negative saprophytic bacillus Burkholderia pseudomallei is endemic with the risk of fulminant septicaemia. While diabetes mellitus is a well-established risk factor for melioidiosis, little is known if specific hypoglycemic agents may differentially influence the susceptibility and clinical course of infection with B. pseudomallei (Bp). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this cohort study, patients with pre-existing diabetes and melioidosis were retrospectively studied. OUTCOME MEASURES: mortality, length of stay and development of complications (namely hypotension, intubation, renal failure and septicaemia) were studied in relation to prior diabetic treatment regimen. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from diabetic patients and healthy PBMC primed with metformin, glyburide and insulin were stimulated with purified Bp antigens in vitro. Immune response and specific immune pathway mediators were studied to relate to the clinical findings mechanistically. Of 74 subjects, 44 (57.9%) had sulphonylurea-containing diabetic regimens. Patient receiving sulphonylureas had more severe septic complications (47.7% versus 16.7% p = 0.006), in particular, hypotension requiring intropes (p = 0.005). There was also a trend towards increased mortality in sulphonylurea-users (15.9% versus 3.3% p = 0.08). In-vitro, glyburide suppressed inflammatory cytokine production in a dose-dependent manner. An effect of the drug was the induction of IL-1R-associated kinase-M at the level of mRNA transcription. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Sulphonylurea treatment results in suppression of host inflammatory response and may put patients at higher risk for adverse outcomes in melioidosis.