Peripheral CD4+ T cell cytokine responses following human challenge and re-challenge with Campylobacter jejuni

• Published in: PloS one 2014-11, Vol.9 (11), p.e112513-e112513
• Main Authors: Fimlaid, Kelly A, Lindow, Janet C, Tribble, David R, Bunn, Janice Y, Maue, Alexander C, Kirkpatrick, Beth D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Antigens; Biology and Life Sciences; Biosynthesis; Campylobacter; Campylobacter Infections - immunology; Campylobacter jejuni; Campylobacter jejuni - immunology; Campylobacteriosis; CD4 antigen; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Chemokines; Clonal deletion; Cytokines; Cytokines - immunology; Cytometry; Dendritic cells; Flow Cytometry; Gastroenteritis; Guillain-Barre syndrome; Human behavior; Humans; Immune response; Immune system; Immunological tolerance; Infections; Infectious diseases; Inflammation; Leukocytes (mononuclear); Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Medical research; Medicine and Health Sciences; Models, Immunological; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Pathogens; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Recurrence; Tuberculosis; Vaccines; γ-Interferon
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112513

Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of human gastroenteritis worldwide; however, our understanding of the human immune response to C. jejuni infection is limited. A previous human challenge model has shown that C. jejuni elicits IFNγ production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells, a response associated with protection from clinical disease following re-infection. In this study, we investigate T lymphocyte profiles associated with campylobacteriosis using specimens from a new human challenge model in which C. jejuni-naïve subjects were challenged and re-challenged with C. jejuni CG8421. Multiparameter flow cytometry was used to investigate T lymphocytes as a source of cytokines, including IFNγ, and to identify cytokine patterns associated with either campylobacteriosis or protection from disease. Unexpectedly, all but one subject evaluated re-experienced campylobacteriosis after re-challenge. We show that CD4+ T cells make IFNγ and other pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to infection; however, multifunctional cytokine response patterns were not found. Cytokine production from peripheral CD4+ T cells was not enhanced following re-challenge, which may suggest deletion or tolerance. Evaluation of alternative paradigms or models is needed to better understand the immune components of protection from campylobacteriosis.