Stefan Magez

Camelid immunoglobulins and nanobody technology.

It is well established that all camelids have unique antibodies circulating in their blood. Unlike antibodies from other species, these special antibodies are devoid of light chains and are composed of a heavy-chain homodimer. These so-called heavy-chain antibodies (HCAbs) are expressed after a V-D-J rearrangement and require dedicated constant gamma-genes. An immune response is raised in these so-called heavy-chain antibodies following classical immunization protocols. These HCAbs are easily purified from serum, and the antigen-binding fragment interacts with parts of the target that are less antigenic to conventional antibodies. Since the antigen-binding site of the dromedary HCAb is comprised in one single domain, referred to as variable domain of heavy chain of HCAb (VHH) or nanobody (Nb), we designed a strategy to clone the Nb repertoire of an immunized dromedary and to select the Nbs with specificity for our target antigens. The monoclonal Nbs are well produced in bacteria, are very stable and highly soluble, and bind their cognate antigen with high affinity and specificity. We have successfully developed recombinant Nbs for research purposes, as probe in biosensors, to diagnose infections, and to treat diseases like cancer or trypanosomosis.

Experimental therapy of African trypanosomiasis with a nanobody-conjugated human trypanolytic factor

High systemic drug toxicity and increasing prevalence of drug resistance hampers efficient treatment of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). Hence, development of new highly specific trypanocidal drugs is necessary. Normal human serum (NHS) contains apolipoprotein L-I (apoL-I), which lyses African trypanosomes except resistant forms such as Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. T. b. rhodesiense expresses the apoL-I–neutralizing serum resistance–associated (SRA) protein, endowing this parasite with the ability to infect humans and cause HAT. A truncated apoL-I (Tr-apoL-I) has been engineered by deleting its SRA-interacting domain, which makes it lytic for T. b. rhodesiense. Here, we conjugated Tr-apoL-I with a single-domain antibody (nanobody) that efficiently targets conserved cryptic epitopes of the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) of trypanosomes to generate a new manmade type of immunotoxin with potential for trypanosomiasis therapy. Treatment with this engineered conjugate resulted in clear curative and alleviating effects on acute and chronic infections of mice with both NHS-resistant and NHS-sensitive trypanosomes.

iNOS-producing inflammatory dendritic cells constitute the major infected cell type during the chronic Leishmania major infection phase of C57BL/6 resistant mice.

Leishmania major parasites reside and multiply in late endosomal compartments of host phagocytic cells. Immune control of Leishmania growth absolutely requires expression of inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS/NOS2) and subsequent production of NO. Here, we show that CD11b+ CD11c+ Ly-6C+ MHC-II+ cells are the main iNOS-producing cells in the footpad lesion and in the draining lymph node of Leishmania major-infected C57BL/6 mice. These cells are phenotypically similar to iNOS-producing inflammatory DC (iNOS-DC) observed in the mouse models of Listeria monocytogenes and Brucella melitensis infection. The use of DsRed-expressing parasites demonstrated that these iNOS-producing cells are the major infected population in the lesions and the draining lymph nodes. Analysis of various genetically deficient mouse strains revealed the requirement of CCR2 expression for the recruitment of iNOS-DC in the draining lymph nodes, whereas their activation is strongly dependent on CD40, IL-12, IFN-γ and MyD88 molecules with a partial contribution of TNF-α and TLR9. In contrast, STAT-6 deficiency enhanced iNOS-DC recruitment and activation in susceptible BALB/c mice, demonstrating a key role for IL-4 and IL-13 as negative regulators. Taken together, our results suggest that iNOS-DC represent a major class of Th1-regulated effector cell population and constitute the most frequent infected cell type during chronic Leishmania major infection phase of C57BL/6 resistant mice.

The Induction of a Type 1 Immune Response following a Trypanosoma brucei Infection Is MyD88 Dependent

The initial host response toward the extracellular parasite Trypanosoma brucei is characterized by the early release of inflammatory mediators associated with a type 1 immune response. In this study, we show that this inflammatory response is dependent on activation of the innate immune system mediated by the adaptor molecule MyD88. In the present study, MyD88-deficient macrophages are nonresponsive toward both soluble variant-specific surface glycoprotein (VSG), as well as membrane-bound VSG purified from T. brucei. Infection of MyD88-deficient mice with either clonal or nonclonal stocks of T. brucei resulted in elevated levels of parasitemia. This was accompanied by reduced plasma IFN-γ and TNF levels during the initial stage of infection, followed by moderately lower VSG-specific IgG2a Ab titers during the chronic stages of infection. Analysis of several TLR-deficient mice revealed a partial requirement for TLR9 in the production of IFN-γ and VSG-specific IgG2a Ab levels during T. brucei infections. These results implicate the mammalian TLR family and MyD88 signaling in the innate immune recognition of T. brucei.

Hemozoin is a key factor in the induction of malaria-associated immunosuppression

Infection‐associated immunoincompetence during malaria might result from macrophage dysfunction. In the present study, we investigated the role of macrophages as target for immunosuppression during infection, using the murine Plasmodium c. chabaudi model. Special attention has been paid to the analysis of processing/presentation of protein antigens and presentation of peptides, using cocultures of peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) from infected mice and antigen‐specific T‐cell hybridomas. The results obtained indicate a defective processing of protein antigens that becomes maximal at acute parasitemias. In addition, macrophages from acutely infected mice suppress the interleukin‐2 production by the antigen‐activated T‐cell hybridomas. This effect was independent of prostaglandin and nitric oxide production by the macrophage. The possible role of parasite components in the impaired accessory cell function of PECs was investigated and hemozoin, the end‐product of the hemoglobin catabolism by intraerythrocytic malaria parasites, was found to induce similar infection‐associated deficiencies in vitro. Moreover, hemozoin, was shown to mimic the immunosuppressive effects induced in PECs during in‐vivo infections with P. chabaudi. In conclusion, we propose that hemozoin is a key factor in the malaria‐associated immunosuppression, affecting both the antigen processing and immunomodulatory functions of macrophages.

Interferon-γ and Nitric Oxide in Combination with Antibodies Are Key Protective Host Immune Factors during Trypanosoma congolense Tc13 Infections

The control of chronic Trypanosoma congolense trypanosomiasis was analyzed using several gene-deficient mouse strains. First, interferon (IFN)-gamma receptor (IFN-gamma-R)-deficient mice were used to show that IFN- gamma -mediated immune activation is crucial for parasitemia control. Second, infections in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-deficient mice indicate that this molecule is needed for initiation of IFN- gamma and subsequent tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production. Downstream of IFN-gamma-R signaling, inducible NO synthase (iNOS)-dependent trypanosome killing occurs, as is shown by the hypersusceptible phenotype of iNOS-deficient mice. Besides proinflammatory responses, B cells and, more specifically, immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies are crucial for parasite killing. Hence, parasitemia control is abolished in B cell-deficient mice, whereas IgM-deficient mice control the infection as efficiently as do wild-type mice. In addition, splenectomized mice that have a normal IgM response but an impaired IgG2a/3 response fail to control T. congolense infection. Collectively, these results suggest that host protective immunity against T. congolense is critically dependent on the combined action of the proinflammatory mediators/effectors IFN- gamma , TNF, and NO and antiparasite IgGs.

Adenylate Cyclases of Trypanosoma brucei Inhibit the Innate Immune Response of the Host

Tricky Tryps African trypanosomes, responsible for human sleeping sickness, are known for their powerful strategies of immune evasion, in particular antigenic variation. Adding another facet to this adaptive potential, Salmon et al. (p. 463, published online 14 June; see the cover) now show that early after infection, these parasites subvert the first line of innate host defense by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-α synthesis in myeloid cells. This occurs through the stress-induced synthesis and release of cyclic adenosine monophosphate by phagocytosed parasites. The findings provide a long-sought function for the abundant and diverse adenylate cyclases in salivarian trypanosomes. Furthermore, this altruistic host colonization strategy, in which a proportion of parasites are sacrificed so that others can thrive, also highlights the selective advantage of population behavior in infection. Parasites release cyclic adenosine monophosphate when swallowed up by myeloid cells, thereby turning off a host defense pathway. The parasite Trypanosoma brucei possesses a large family of transmembrane receptor–like adenylate cyclases. Activation of these enzymes requires the dimerization of the catalytic domain and typically occurs under stress. Using a dominant-negative strategy, we found that reducing adenylate cyclase activity by about 50% allowed trypanosome growth but reduced the parasite’s ability to control the early innate immune defense of the host. Specifically, activation of trypanosome adenylate cyclase resulting from parasite phagocytosis by liver myeloid cells inhibited the synthesis of the trypanosome-controlling cytokine tumor necrosis factor–α through activation of protein kinase A in these cells. Thus, adenylate cyclase activity of lyzed trypanosomes favors early host colonization by live parasites. The role of adenylate cyclases at the host-parasite interface could explain the expansion and polymorphism of this gene family.

A Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Based Treatment Alleviates Trypanosomiasis-Associated Immunopathology

The GPI-anchored trypanosome variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) triggers macrophages to produce TNF, involved in trypanosomiasis-associated inflammation and the clinical manifestation of sleeping sickness. Aiming at inhibiting immunopathology during experimental Trypanosoma brucei infections, a VSG-derived GPI-based treatment approach was developed. To achieve this, mice were exposed to the GPI before an infectious trypanosome challenge. This GPI-based strategy resulted in a significant prolonged survival and a substantial protection against infection-associated weight loss, liver damage, acidosis, and anemia; the latter was shown to be Ab-independent and correlated with reduced macrophage-mediated RBC clearance. In addition, GPI-based treatment resulted in reduced circulating serum levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-6, abrogation of infection-induced LPS hypersensitivity, and an increase in circulating IL-10. At the level of trypanosomiasis-associated macrophage activation, the GPI-based treatment resulted in an impaired secretion of TNF by VSG and LPS pulsed macrophages, a reduced expression of the inflammatory cytokine genes TNF, IL-6, and IL-12, and an increased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine gene IL-10. In addition, this change in cytokine pattern upon GPI-based treatment was associated with the expression of alternatively activated macrophage markers. Finally, the GPI-based treatment also reduced the infection-associated pathology in Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma evansi model systems as well as in tsetse fly challenge experiments, indicating potential field applicability for this intervention strategy.

P75 Tumor Necrosis Factor–Receptor Shedding Occurs as a Protective Host Response during African Trypanosomiasis

In experimental murine trypanosomiasis, resistance is often scored as the capacity to control peak parasitemia levels, which results in prolonged survival. Infection-induced pathology has not systematically been used as a resistance criterion. Because this parameter could be the most relevant for comparative analysis of natural and experimental infections, as well as for understanding of pathology-associated immune alterations, we analyzed Trypanosoma brucei infections in 4 different established conventional mouse models, as well as in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-deficient and TNF-receptor-deficient mice. Results indicate the following: (1) there is no correlation between peak parasitemia control or survival and the induction of infection-associated anemia, loss of body weight, liver pathology, reduced locomotor activity, and general morbidity; (2) serum levels of TNF, interferon- gamma, and interleukin-10, which are known to affect survival, do not correlate with induction of pathology; and (3) infection-induced occurrence of lipopolysaccharide hypersensitivity does not correlate with survival. However, one parameter that was found to correlate with the inhibition of trypanosomiasis-associated pathology in all models was the shedding of soluble p75 TNF-receptor during peak parasitemia stages. These results are important for future cytokine and trypanosomiasis pathology studies, because the interplay between TNF and the soluble receptors it sheds has not been considered in either human clinical sleeping sickness studies or in veterinary trypanosomiasis research.

Murine tumour necrosis factor plays a protective role during the initial phase of the experimental infection with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

Soluble extracts from salivarian trypanosomes (Trypanosoma brucei brucei, T. evansi and T. congolense) were shown to be capable of inducing murine tumour necrosis factor (mTNF) secretion, both in vivo and in vitro, whereas the soluble extract of an intracellular trypanosome (T. cruzi) failed to do so. Furthermore, the role of mTNF during the initial phase of experimental infections with T. brucei was studied by treating infected mice with mTNF‐inducing trypanosoma soluble extract and with neutralizing monoclonal anti‐mTNF antibodies. Treatment of the infected animals with different doses of T. brucei soluble extract resulted in a lower first parasitaemia peak (low lysate dose) and in a longer survival time or in a nearly total inhibition of parasite development (high lysate dose). Cotreatment of the infected mice with both anti‐mTNF antibodies and a high dose of soluble extract completely restored the parasite development in both trypanosusceptible C3H/He mice and trypanosubtolerant CBA/Ca mice, indicating a protective role of mTNF during the parasitaemia. Collectively these results suggest a negative influence of mTNF on T. brucei development in vivo.