Resistance of chemokine receptor 6-deficient mice to Yersinia enterocolitica infection: evidence of defective M-cell formation in vivo

Am J Pathol. 2008 Mar;172(3):671-80. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2008.070393. Epub 2008 Feb 7.

Abstract

M cells, specialized cells within Peyer's patches (PPs), are reduced in number in chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6)-deficient mice. The pathogenic microorganism Yersinia enterocolitica exploits M cells for the purpose of mucosal tissue invasion exclusively through PPs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of yersiniosis in CCR6-deficient mice and to investigate whether these mice might be used as an in vivo model to determine M-cell function. After oral challenge with Y. enterocolitica, control mice suffered from lethal septic infection whereas CCR6-deficient mice showed very limited symptoms of infection. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated PP invasion by Y. enterocolitica in control mice whereas no bacteria could be found in CCR6-deficient mice. In addition, a significant induction of proinflammatory cytokines could be found in control mice whereas proinflammatory cytokine levels in CCR6-deficient mice remained unchanged. In contrast, intraperitoneal infection resulted in severe systemic yersiniosis in both mouse groups. Abrogated oral Y. enterocolitica infection in CCR6-deficient mice demonstrates the importance of CCR6 expression in the physiological and pathological immune responses generated within PPs by influencing M-cell differentiation, underscoring the important role of M cells in the process of microbial uptake. CCR6-deficient mice may therefore represent a suitable model for the study of M-cell function in vivo.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation* / genetics
  • Citrobacter rodentium
  • Colitis / microbiology
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / genetics
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / pathology
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Peyer's Patches / abnormalities
  • Peyer's Patches / cytology*
  • Peyer's Patches / physiology*
  • Receptors, CCR6 / genetics*
  • Spleen / microbiology
  • Spleen / pathology
  • Yersinia Infections / genetics*
  • Yersinia Infections / immunology
  • Yersinia Infections / pathology
  • Yersinia enterocolitica*

Substances

  • CCR6 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, CCR6