The host genetic background defines diverse immune-reactivity and susceptibility to chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infection

• DOI: 10.1038/srep36924
• Publication Date: 2016-11-16T11:06:39Z
• Authors: Lorenza Spagnuolo; Maura De Simone; Nicola Ivan Lorè; Ida De Fino; Veronica Basso; Anna Mondino; Cristina Cigana; Alessandra Bragonzi
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; Interleukin-17; Article; 3. Good health; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Leukocytes; Animals; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Pseudomonas Infections; Genetic Background; Lung; Respiratory Tract Infections; Disease Resistance

AbstractPatients with P. aeruginosa airways infection show markedly variable clinical phenotypes likely influenced by genetic backgrounds. Here, we investigated the cellular events involved in resistance and susceptibility to P. aeruginosa chronic infection using genetically distinct inbred mouse strains. As for patients, different murine genotypes revealed variable susceptibility to infection. When directly compared, resistant C3H/HeOuJ and susceptible A/J strains revealed distinct immune responsiveness to the pathogen. In C3H/HeOuJ resistant mice, IL17-producing cells rapidly and transiently infiltrated the infected lung, and this was paralleled by the acute accumulation of alveolar macrophages, bacterial clearance and resolution of infection. In contrast, A/J susceptible mice revealed a more delayed and prolonged lung infiltration by IL17+ and IFNγ+ cells, persistence of innate inflammatory cells and establishment of chronic infection. We conclude that the host genetic background confers diverse immunoreactivity to P. aeruginosa and IL17-producing cells might contribute to the progress of chronic lung infection.