Open AccessRetnla down‐regulation and IL ‐13‐rich environment correlate with inflammation severity in experimental actinomycetoma by N ocardia brasiliensis
Author(s) -
Meester Irene,
RosasTaraco Adrián G.,
SalinasCarmona Mario C.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pathogens and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.983
H-Index - 105
ISSN - 2049-632X
DOI - 10.1111/2049-632x.12036
Subject(s) - intracellular parasite , inflammation , biology , nocardia brasiliensis , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , macrophage , immunology , pathogen , macrophage polarization , intracellular , interferon gamma , nocardia , bacteria , nocardiosis , biochemistry , genetics , in vitro
N ocardia brasiliensis (Nb) is a facultative intracellular pathogen that may cause actinomycetoma when immune response is unable to control the pathogenic invasion. We used comparative real‐time PCR to evaluate the expression level of molecules indicative of either classical or alternative activation of macrophages, as well as of cytokines involved in macrophage polarization, during the experimental infection in BALB /c mice. We found induction or increased expression of the pro‐inflammatory markers csf2 / GM ‐ CSF , interferon‐gamma, and nos2 /i NOS . The expression of Ym1 and IL ‐13, which are usually related with alternative activation of macrophage, was also increased. However, retnla / FIZZ 1 expression decreased sharply during the infection. We concluded that Nb infection induces both a pro‐inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory environment, in which there is a strong inverse correlation between IL ‐13 and retnla expression.