Contrasting immune responses mediate Campylobacter jejuni-induced colitis and autoimmunity

Mucosal Immunol. 2014 Jul;7(4):802-17. doi: 10.1038/mi.2013.97. Epub 2013 Nov 13.

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of foodborne enteritis that has been linked to the autoimmune neuropathy, Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS). C57BL/6 interleukin (IL)-10(+/+) and congenic IL-10(-/-) mice serve as C. jejuni colonization and colitis models, respectively, but a mouse model for GBS is lacking. We demonstrate that IL-10(-/-) mice infected with a C. jejuni colitogenic human isolate had significantly upregulated type 1 and 17 but not type 2 cytokines in the colon coincident with infiltration of phagocytes, T cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). Both ILC and T cells participated in interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-17, and IL-22 upregulation but in a time- and organ-specific manner. T cells were, however, necessary for colitis as mice depleted of Thy-1(+) cells were protected while neither Rag1(-/-) nor IL-10R blocked Rag1(-/-) mice developed colitis after infection. Depleting IFN-γ, IL-17, or both significantly ameliorated colitis and drove colonic responses toward type 2 cytokine and antibody induction. In contrast, C. jejuni GBS patient strains induced mild colitis associated with blunted type 1/17 but enhanced type 2 responses. Moreover, the type 2 but not type 1/17 antibodies cross-reacted with peripheral nerve gangliosides demonstrating autoimmunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Autoimmunity* / genetics
  • Campylobacter Infections / genetics
  • Campylobacter Infections / immunology*
  • Campylobacter Infections / metabolism
  • Campylobacter Infections / microbiology
  • Campylobacter jejuni / immunology*
  • Colitis / genetics
  • Colitis / immunology*
  • Colitis / microbiology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Interleukin-10 / deficiency
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Cytokines
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Interleukin-10