Immune response and differentially expressed proteins in the lung tissue of BALB/c mice challenged by aerosolized Brucella melitensis 5

J Int Med Res. 2018 Nov;46(11):4740-4752. doi: 10.1177/0300060518799879. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

Abstract

Objective: This study was performed to develop a murine aerosol infection model of brucellosis to investigate the pathogenicity and immune reactions induced by aerosolized Brucella and to identify key proteins associated with Brucella infection in lung tissue.

Methods: BALB/c mice were exposed to aerosolized Brucella melitensis 5 (M5) for 30 minutes and killed at 1, 3, 7, and 15 days post-exposure. Clinical observation, pathological analysis of lung tissue, and cytokine expression detection were then performed. Proteomic analysis based on two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry was used to identify proteins exhibiting significant changes in expression in lung tissues during Brucella infection.

Results: Pathological analysis revealed alveolar wall thickening, telangiectasia with hyperemia, inflammatory cell infiltration, large areas of congestion and bleeding, and areas of focal necrosis. The T-helper 1 type immune response played an important role during aerosol infection, and 12 differentially expressed proteins were involved in the infectious process in lung tissue.

Conclusion: These results contribute to our understanding of the pathogenic process of Brucella in the lung tissue of BALB/c mice challenged with aerosolized Brucella. Some of the identified proteins may be potential targets in future therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: Aerosol exposure; Brucella melitensis 5; immunoreactions; mouse lung tissue; pathological analysis; proteomic analysis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Brucella melitensis
  • Brucellosis / immunology*
  • Brucellosis / metabolism*
  • Brucellosis / microbiology
  • Brucellosis / pathology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Female
  • Immunity*
  • Kinetics
  • Lung / metabolism*
  • Lung / microbiology*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Proteome / metabolism*
  • Proteomics

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Proteome