Plasminogen activator inhibitor type I may contribute to transient, non-specific changes in immunity in the subacute phase of murine tuberculosis

Liesbeth M. Kager, Gerritje J. W. van der Windt, Catharina W. Wieland, Sandrine Florquin, Cornelis van 't Veer, Tom van der Poll

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Abstract

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis, is a devastating infectious disease causing many deaths worldwide. Non-specific host defense mechanisms such as the coagulation and fibrinolytic system may give insight in possible new therapeutic targets. Plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), an important regulator of inflammation and fibrinolysis, might be of interest as tuberculosis patients have elevated plasma levels of PAI-1. In this study we set out to investigate the role of PAI-1 during tuberculosis in vivo. Wildtype (WT) and PAI-1 deficient (PAI-1(-/-)) mice were intranasally infected with M. tuberculosis H37rv and sacrificed after 2,5 and 29 weeks. Five weeks post-infection, bacterial loads in lungs of PAI-1(-/-) mice were significantly higher compared to WT mice, while no differences were seen 2 and 29 weeks post-infection. At two weeks post-infection increased influx of macrophages and lymphocytes was observed. PAI-1 deficiency was associated with a reduced cytokine response in the lungs; however, upon stimulation with tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD), PAI-1(-/-) splenocytes released increased levels of IFN-gamma compared to WT. No clear differences were found between PAI-1(-/-) and WT mice at 29 weeks after infection. In conclusion, these data suggest that PAI-1 contributes to transient, non-specific changes in immunity during the early phase of murine tuberculosis. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS on behalf of Institut Pasteur. All rights reserved
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)748-755
JournalMicrobes and infection / Institut Pasteur
Volume14
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

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