Rough virulent strain of Brucella ovis induces pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in reproductive tissues in experimentally infected rams

Author(s)

Azevedo de Paula Antunes, Joao Marcelo ^[1] ; Allendorf, Susan Dora ^[1] ; Appolinario, Camila Michele ^[1] ; Cagnini, Didier Quevedo ^[1] ; Figueiredo, Paula Ripamonte ^[2] ; Buratini Junior, Jose ^[2] ; Vicente Banos, Joaquin ^[3] ; Kocan, Katherine M. ^[4] ; de la Fuente, Jose ^{[4, 3]} ; Megid, Jane ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Med Vet & Zootecn, UNESP, BR-18618000 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Fisiol, BR-18618000 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[3] IREC CSIC UCLM JCCM, Inst Invest Recursos Cineget, Ciudad Real 13005 - Spain

^[4] Oklahoma State Univ, Ctr Vet Hlth Sci, Dept Vet Pathobiol, Stillwater, OK 74078 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Veterinary Microbiology; v. 161, n. 3-4, p. 339-343, JAN 25 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 6

Abstract

The ovine brucellosis caused by Brucella ovis has tropism for reproductive tissues but until now the mechanism of bacterial persistence is not understood. Cytokine expression profiles were studied for 8 months in rams after being experimentally infected with the rough virulent strain of B. ovis (R-B. ovis) to study the pathogenesis of B. ovis and immune mechanism possibly associated to bacteria tropism and persistence. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) and tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-alpha) cytokines were quantified by real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) in reproductive tissues (epididymus, testicles, ampolae, vesicular glands and bulbourethral glands), and non-reproductive (liver, spleen and kidneys) tissues at 30, 60, 120 and 240 days post infection (dpi). During the acute phase of infection at 30 dpi, the host immune response was most notable demonstrating an up-regulation of several cytokines in reproductive tissues, including the epididymus (IL-6, IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha), testicles (INF-gamma and IL-12), bulbourethral glands (IL-6 and TNF-alpha) and ampolae (INF-gamma, IL-10, IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha). During the development of infection, cytokine gene expression levels decreased, providing evidence of immunosuppression and evidence of immune evasion that favoured persistence of chronic R-B. ovis infection. During the chronic phase of R-B. ovis infection (120 and 240 dpi), cytokine production was down-regulated in the epididymus (IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha), testicles (INF-gamma and IL-12), and ampolae (INF-gamma, IL-10, IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha), with the exception of the bulbourethral glands (IL-6 and TNF-alpha) and epididymus (IL-6); in these tissues, R-B. ovis infection resulted in up-regulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Herein, we report cytokine expression profiles in tissues of rams experimentally infected with the rough strain of B. ovis, which are associated with bacterial persistence and macrophage activation. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/03837-0 - Study of Gene Expression profile in Immune Response of experimental ovine brucellosis
• Grantee: Joao Marcelo Azevedo de Paula Antunes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 08/03962-0 - Study of Genic Expression Profile in Immune Response of experimental ovine brucellosis
• Grantee: Jane Megid
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants