Vaccination promotes TH1-like inflammation and survival in chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in rats

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995 Oct;152(4 Pt 1):1337-46. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm.152.4.7551392.

Abstract

In a rat model of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection mimicking cystic fibrosis (CF) we studied whether the inflammatory response could be altered by vaccination. Rats were immunized with either a depolymerized alginate toxin A conjugate (D-ALG toxin A), purified alginate, an O-polysaccharide toxin A conjugate, or sterile saline. After challenge none of the rats immunized with D-ALG toxin A died, in contrast to the other two vaccine groups combined (p = 0.03). A significant reduction in the severity of the macroscopic lung inflammation was seen in rats immunized with D-ALG toxin A, compared with the other three groups (p = 0.009). The histopathologic response in the control rats was dominated by numerous polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) surrounding the alginate beads. In contrast, the histopathologic response in rats immunized with D-ALG toxin A changed within the first week after challenge from predominantly PMNs (TH2-like) to a chronic-type inflammation dominated by mononuclear leukocytes (TH1-like). In accordance, the antibody titers induced by the D-ALG toxin A vaccine were not different from those of the control rats after challenge. This study identifies a possible new way of modifying the inflammation and thereby preventing the PMN-mediated lung tissue damage during chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection in CF.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Alginates
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Bacterial Vaccines*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / complications
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / pathology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / pathology
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / prevention & control*
  • Pseudomonas Infections / immunology
  • Pseudomonas Infections / pathology
  • Pseudomonas Infections / prevention & control*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / immunology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Vaccination*

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Vaccines