The bradykinin B2 receptor in the early immune response against Listeria infection

• Published in: Medical microbiology and immunology 2009-02, Vol.198 (1), p.39-46
• Main Authors: Kaman, Wendy E., Wolterink, Arthur F. W. M., Bader, Michael, Boele, Linda C. L., van der Kleij, Desiree
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Body Weight; Bradykinin - immunology; Cells, Cultured; Cytokines; Cytokines - secretion; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Immune system; Immunology; Infectious diseases; Interferon-gamma - secretion; Interleukin-12 - biosynthesis; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeria monocytogenes - immunology; Listeriosis - immunology; Liver - microbiology; Medical Microbiology; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Original Investigation; Peptides; Receptor, Bradykinin B2 - deficiency; Receptor, Bradykinin B2 - immunology; Rodents; Virology
• ISSN: 0300-8584; 1432-1831
• DOI: 10.1007/s00430-008-0103-4

The endogenous danger signal bradykinin was recently found implicated in the development of immunity against parasites via dendritic cells. We here report an essential role of the B 2 (B 2 R) bradykinin receptor in the early immune response against Listeria infection. Mice deficient in B 2 R (B 2 R −/− mice) were shown to suffer from increased hepatic bacterial burden and concomitant dramatic weight loss during infection with Listeria monocytogenes . Levels of cytokines known to play a pivotal role in the early phase immune response against L. monocytogenes , IL-12p70 and IFN-γ, were reduced in B 2 R −/− mice. To extend these findings to the human system, we show that bradykinin potentiates the production of IL-12p70 in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells . Thus, we show that bradykinin and the B 2 R play a role in early innate immune functions during bacterial infection.