Abstract
The spectrum of clinical forms observed in leprosy and its pathogenesis are dictated by the host’s immune response against Mycobacterium leprae, the etiological agent of leprosy. Previous results, based on metabolomics studies, demonstrated a strong relationship between clinical manifestations of leprosy and alterations in the metabolism of ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and the diverse set of lipid mediators derived from PUFAs. PUFA-derived lipid mediators provide multiple functions during acute inflammation, and some lipid mediators are able to induce both pro- and anti-inflammatory responses as determined by the cell surface receptors being expressed, as well as the cell type expressing the receptors. However, little is known about how these compounds influence cellular immune activities during chronic granulomatous infectious diseases, such as leprosy. Current evidence suggests that specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) are involved in the down-modulation of the innate and adaptive immune response against M. leprae and that alteration in the homeostasis of pro-inflammatory lipid mediators versus SPMs is associated with dramatic shifts in the pathogenesis of leprosy. In this review, we discuss the possible consequences and present new hypotheses for the involvement of ω3 and ω6 PUFA metabolism in the pathogenesis of leprosy. A specific emphasis is placed on developing models of lipid mediator interactions with the innate and adaptive immune responses and the influence of these interactions on the outcome of leprosy.
Introduction
Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease driven by interactions of the human host with Mycobacterium leprae an obligate intracellular pathogen that infects macrophages and Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system. M. leprae is the only mycobacterial infection that causes widespread demyelinating neuropathy, which results in severe and irreversible nerve tissue damage. The prevalence of leprosy is gradually decreasing in many countries due to multidrug therapy (MDT) (). However, the rates of new case detection remain relatively stable in developing countries (). India and Brazil are the countries that exhibit the highest incidence and account for 60 and 13% of the global new cases of leprosy, respectively ().
Leprosy is well known for its bi-polarization of the immune response, and it is established that the nature and magnitude of the host immune response against M. leprae are critical factors for the pathogenesis of leprosy and its varied clinical manifestations. At one end of the spectrum, tuberculoid (TT) disease is typified by strong T-helper type 1 (Th1) cellular immunity and low bacterial load (–). This response promotes the protection against the pathogen via interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) activation of macrophage anti-microbicidal mechanisms (). These patients also present robust T-helper type 17 (Th17) activity () that stimulates macrophages and enhances Th1 responses (). The other end of the spectrum, lepromatous leprosy (LL), is characterized by a low or even absent Th1 response () but robust T-helper type 2 (Th2) and humoral responses. The diminished Th1 response in LL is partially explained by the highly suppressive activity of T regulatory (Treg) cells and the reduced frequency of Th17 cells (, ). Consequently, these patients manifest the most severe form of the disease and are unable to control M. leprae growth (). Between these two clinical forms, patients with intermediate immune responses develop borderline clinical forms: borderline tuberculoid (BT), borderline-borderline (BB), and borderline lepromatous (BL). BT patients present with a dominant IFN-γ response, and also a higher activity of Th17 cells (), while BL patients exhibit T-cell anergy, because of the higher frequency of Treg cells (, ), and a higher production of interleukin-4 (IL-4) (–). Peripheral neuropathy can occur in all clinical forms of leprosy but is most pronounced in patients who present with an exacerbated acute immune-inflammatory response, designated type 1 reaction (T1R). Multiple studies indicate that pathogenic CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses (–) and production of nitric oxide (NO) in M. leprae-infected macrophages are related with nerve injury in leprosy patients (). Thus, the human immune response against M. leprae is involved with key aspects of leprosy pathogenesis.
Metabolomic-based studies reveal that M. leprae infection promotes several modifications in human metabolism. The most prominent of these metabolic changes is a correlation between the spectrum of clinical forms of leprosy and the metabolism of ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (–). Of particular interest are the PUFA-lipid mediators: prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), lipoxin A4 (LXA4), and resolvin D1 (RvD1). Both PGE2 and PGD2 are found in elevated levels in the sera of LL patients as compared to BT patients (). Additionally, PGD2 levels are increased in leprosy patients with T1R, while PGE2 levels decrease in patients with a T1R (). BT and LL patients have similar levels of the pro-resolving lipid mediators, LXA4 and RvD1 (). However, when compared with healthy individuals, the levels of LXA4 and RvD1 are elevated in the sera of BT and LL patients. In patients with T1R, the level of RvD1 is significantly decreased, as is the ratio of LXA4/LTB4 ().
It is well established that lipid mediators derived from the metabolism of ω3 and ω6 PUFAs are able to modulate the innate and adaptive immune responses (–). Thus, we posit that the PUFA-derived lipid mediators are important factors in the pathogenesis of leprosy. The objectives of this review are to bring together metabolic and immunological data that support our hypothesis and to provide an understanding of how lipid mediators potentially function across the spectrum of disease. Specifically, we will focus the review on the five lipid mediators (PGE2, PGD2, LTB4, LXA4, and RvD1) found to be differentially produced in leprosy patients (, ).
A Brief Review of the Relevant Lipid Mediators
The ω6 PUFA, arachidonic acid (AA), is the precursor for a variety of lipid mediators (prostaglandins, leukotrienes, lipoxins, and thromboxanes) that exhibit immune-inflammatory functions (Figure 1; Table 1) (–). Importantly, AA can be metabolized by three separate pathways: cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway, lipoxygenase (LO) pathway, and epoxygenase pathway (the latter is not discussed in this review) (Figure 1) ().
Figure 1
Table 1
| Lipid mediators | Receptor(s) and cell expression | Functions |
|---|---|---|
| Leukotriene B4 | BLT1 – neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, mast cells, effector CD8+ T cells, naive CD4+ T cells, differentiated T-helper type 1 (Th1), T-helper type 2 (Th2), and T-helper type 17 (Th17) cells, and endothelial cells (, ) BLT2 – expressed ubiquitously (, ) | Recruit neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages () Enhance Th1 response () Recruits Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells (, ) Enhances TNF-α expression and also the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with Th1 responses [interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-12] (, ) |
| Prostaglandin E2 | EP1 – endothelial cells () EP2 – mast cells, neutrophil, naive T cells, monocytes, macrophages, Th17 cells, and endothelial cells (–) EP3 – platelets, mast cells, monocytes, and endothelial cells (, ) EP4 – mast cells, eosinophils, monocytes, dendritic cells, naive T cells, Th1 cells, Th17 cells, B lymphocytes, and endothelial cells (–) | Promotes local vasodilation, attraction and activation of neutrophils, macrophages, and mast cells at early stages of inflammation () Regulates the production of IL-23 in dendritic cells () Inhibits the synthesis of IL-12 in dendritic cells () Impairs the proliferation of T cells (, ) Regulates the production of nitric oxide () Modulates Th1 cells differentiation (, –) Promotes the expansion of T regulatory (Treg) cells () Up-regulates the transcription factor FOXP3 () Inhibits the activation of macrophages by IFN-γ () Induces apoptosis (, ) |
| Prostaglandin D2 | DP1 – mast cells, monocytes, and immature and mature dendritic cells (, ) CRTH2 – Th2 cells, basophils, eosinophils, mast cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells (, –) | Promotes the myelination of neurons () Induces vasodilation, erythema, edema and induration (–58) Down-modulates the synthesis of IL-12 in dendritic cells (, 59) Enhance the ability of Th2 cells to produce IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13Reduces the numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that produces IL-2 and IFN-γ (60, 61) Induces chemotaxis of Th2 cells, eosinophils, and basophils (62) |
| Lipoxin A4 | ALX/FPR2 and GPR32 – monocytes macrophages, neutrophils, and T cells (Th1, Th17, and Tregs) (, 63) | Inhibits the recruitment of neutrophils (64) Promotes macrophage efferocytosis (65) Down-regulates Th1-derived cytokines like IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6 (, , 66, 67) Induces the synthesis of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (66) Inhibits the synthesis of LTB4 (68) |
| Resolvin D1 | ALX/FPR2 and GPR32 (see Lipoxin A4) (, 63) | Shortens resolution of inflammationInhibits the recruitment of leukocytes (, 69) Down-modulates the production of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, and IL-12 (70–72) Up-modulates the production of IL-10 (70) Efferocytosis (73) Inhibits LTB4 production (68) Decreases the capacity of Th1 and Th17 cells to produce IFN-γ and IL-17, respectively; prevents Th1 and Th17 generation from naive CD4 T cells; promotes the de novo generation of Treg cells; and induces the expression of CTLA-4 () |
Functions of the lipid mediators discussed in this review.
The COX pathway converts AA into prostaglandins via two isoforms of COX, COX-1 and COX-2 (Figure 1) (). Both enzymes convert AA into PGG2, which is reduced to PGH2 and then converted to PGD2 or PGE2 by PGD or PGE synthase, respectively (Figure 1) (74). PGE2 and PGD2 are involved with the early stages of inflammation, and it is well established that both lipid mediators exhibit a dual role in immune-inflammation due to their capacities to exert pro- and anti-inflammatory responses (Table 1) (, 75). This might be partially explained by the fact that both prostaglandins are recognized by more than one prostaglandin receptor (PGE2 – EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4; PGD2 – DP1 and CRTH2) (see Table 1) (, , , ). Moreover, PGD2 and its metabolites (e.g., 15d-PGJ2) are ligands for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) (76, 77).
The LO pathway converts AA to leukotrienes and lipoxins (). The production of LXA4 and LTB4 is dependent on 5-LO that converts AA to leukotriene A4 (LTA4) via 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HPETE) (Figure 1) (78–82). Subsequently, LTA4 hydrolase (LTA4H) catalyzes the conversion of LTA4 to LTB4 (83) and platelet-derived 12-LO or 15-LO uses LTA4 as a substrate for the production of LXA4 (Figure 1) (84, 85). LTB4 is involved in the initiating steps of the immune-inflammatory response and exerts its pro-inflammatory functions through two G-protein-coupled receptors BLT1 and BLT2 (Table 1) (86). More specifically, LTB4 has the capacity to act as a chemoattractant for leukocytes, activate inflammatory cells (), and favor Th1 and Th17 responses (Table 1) (, , , 87–89). In contrast, LXA4 is a specialized pro-resolving lipid mediator (SPM) that acts via the G-protein-coupled receptors ALX/FPR2 and GPR32 (Table 1) (63). An imbalance between the levels of LXA4 and LTB4 exacerbate the immune-inflammatory response and/or favor pathogen survival, including mycobacterial infections (, 90). Importantly, the SPMs promote the resolution phase of inflammation by impairing the recruitment of leukocytes, stimulating the engulfment of apoptotic cells by phagocytes (known as efferocytosis) and inducing tissue repair (, 69).
Lipid mediators derived from the essential ω3 PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) include the resolvins, maresins, and protectins, all of which are SPMs (Figure 2) (). The E-series resolvins (resolvins E1 to E3) are synthesized directly from EPA, while maresins (maresin-1 and maresin-2), protectins (protectin-1 and neuroprotectin-1), and D-series resolvins (resolvins D1 to D6) are produced from DHA (Figure 2). However, DHA itself can be produced from EPA by two elongation steps, desaturation and subsequent β-oxidation in the peroxisome (91, 92). Important in this review is the D-series resolvins and specifically RvD1. This SPM has overlapping activities with LXA4 and acts via the same G-protein-coupled receptors, ALX/FPR2 and GPR32 (Table 1) (63).
Figure 2
Analytical Approaches to Identify and Measure Lipid Mediators
The identification and quantitation of PUFA-derived lipid mediators have been a challenge due to the small quantities produced within tissues and cells. Thus, highly sensitive methods of gas and liquid chromatography-based separations coupled with detection by mass spectrometry (e.g., GC–MS, GC–MS/MS, LC–MS, and LC–MS/MS) and immunology-based assays [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)] have played a pivotal role in the analysis of lipid mediators (93, 94).
The separation of individual lipid mediators by GC or LC allows the analyses of multiple lipid mediators in a single biological sample, and the detection of the lipid mediators by MS or MS/MS provides a means for their identification and quantification (95). It is noted that many of the ω3 and ω6 PUFA-derived lipid mediators are isomers, therefore the fragmentation patterns generated my MS/MS provide additional structural information over what is obtained with an accurate mass measurement (MS) (96). However, some isomeric lipid mediators produce similar fragment ion profiles. Thus, it is important to apply authentic standards with rigorous chromatographic separation to confirm the identity of specific lipid mediators. A major advantage of LC–MS or LC–MS/MS as compared to GC–MS or GC–MS/MS is that derivatization to ensure volatility of the lipid mediators is not required (97). Nevertheless, GC-based approaches remain an important tool for confirming the structure and abundance of lipid mediators obtained via LC–MS or LC–MS/MS analyses (93, 94, 98).
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is an orthogonal approach for the quantification of lipid mediators and offers relatively high sensitivity and selectivity (97). However, ELISA-based assays are commercially available for only certain lipid mediators, typically those that are best characterized for their biological activity. Cross-reactivity of antibodies between lipid mediators is a potential limitation of this technique; thus, antibody specificity should be checked with authentic standards (99).
The Specialized Pro-Resolving RvD1 in Leprosy: Bad with it, Worse without it
The Potential Role of RvD1 in Down-Modulation of the Immune Response of Leprosy
Amaral et al. revealed that sera levels of RvD1 in BT and LL leprosy patients were similar, but increased in comparison with the sera of healthy individuals (). Interestingly, after MDT serum levels of RvD1 in BT and LL patients were reduced to those of healthy controls (). These data indicated that RvD1 is being produced in response to inflammation and possibly also associated with the presence of the pathogen or pathogen products. However, induction of RvD1 production via M. leprae infection has not been investigated.
A comprehensive study to define the biological activity of the D-series resolvins (RvD1 and RvD2) and maresin-1 on the adaptive immune response demonstrated that these SPMs reduce the production of IFN-γ and IL-17 by Th1 and Th17 cells, respectively (). Moreover, RvD1 was shown to promote the de novo generation of FoxP3+ Treg cells, the expression of CTLA-4 (a surface marker of Treg cells) and IL-10 secretion. The similar levels of RvD1 in BT and LL patients, does not correlate well with this laboratory assessment of RvD1 activity, since BT patients present a strong Th1 and Th17 responses (, , ) and LL patients are characterized by T-cell anergy and increased frequency of Treg cells (, ). Nevertheless, it would be premature to conclude that RvD1 does not participate in the dichotomous immune responses of TT/BT and BL/LL patients. It is possible that the higher level of RvD1 down-modulates the Th1 immune response in TT/BT as well as BL/LL patients. Martins et al. demonstrated that peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from paucibacillary (TT/BT) leprosy patients possess a lower capacity to produce IFN-γ than healthy individuals exposed to M. leprae (). Thus, the adaptive immune response in TT/BT individuals is still reduced as compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, it could be that RvD1 activity is related to the level of expression of its cognate receptors, GPR32 and ALX/FPR2. Thus, studies that assess the presence of these receptors in the T cells of TT/BT and BL/LL patients are required to fully understand the potential influence of RvD1 on the adaptive immune response across the spectrum of leprosy. Polymorphisms in the promoter region of the ALX/FPR2 gene resulting in a reduced expression of this receptor are known (100, 101). Thus, it would also be interesting to investigate whether polymorphisms exist between TT/BT and BL/LL patients in the promoter or functional regions of the GPR32 and ALX/FPR2 genes.
RvD1 Regulation of Macrophage Activity: A Possible Factor That Sustains Paucibacillary Infection
Besides the ability to reduce the activity of Th1 and Th17 cells, RvD1 also controls the activity of macrophages (102, 103). RvD1 induces efferocytosis in monocytes/macrophages (73), a process that engulfs apoptotic cells and is reported to play an important role in the clearance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium (104, 105). However, De Oliveira and colleagues indicated that this process might promote the persistence of M. leprae (106). Specifically, in the presence of M. leprae, efferocytosis alters the phenotype of the pro-inflammatory M1 macrophage toward anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype with increased the uptake and survival of M. leprae. Therefore, in paucibacillary patients, where apoptotic bodies are present in higher number (107, 108), efferocytosis may play an important role in the in vivo persistence of M. leprae. The increased levels of RvD1 in TT/BT patients could help drive this process (Figure 3).
Figure 3
Adding to the immunomodulatory activity of efferocytosis, it is recognized that M. leprae inhibits the capacity of macrophage to respond to IFN-γ stimulation () and impairs the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6 and TNF-α) (109). Macrophages infected with M. leprae have been found to preferentially prime Treg cells over Th1 or cytotoxic T cells (110). Thus, RvD1 may have an additive or synergistic effect on macrophage function that further reduces the innate responses against M. leprae and consequently allows the survival of the pathogen in leprosy patients with a robust Th1 and Th17 cells response (Figure 3). However, studies are required to determine whether RvD1 preferentially drives the response of M. leprae-infected macrophage, as well as enhancement of M. leprae uptake in the context of efferocytosis. While we would hypothesize that RvD1 would influence macrophage polarization in the context of M. leprae infection, the involvement of other lipid mediators in this process cannot be excluded.
The Reduction of RvD1 Levels in T1R: The Worse
T1R is a major complication in borderline leprosy patients (BT, BB, and BL) and occurs before, during and after MDT (111). The increased inflammation of T1R driven by Th1 and Th17 cells in skin lesions and/or nerves can result in permanent loss of nerve function (112, 113).
A higher bacillary load and MDT are factors associated with the development of T1R pathology (114–116). Thus, it has been hypothesized that the release of M. leprae antigens promoted by MDT drive an enhanced immune-inflammatory response, especially in multi-bacillary patients (116, 117). Interestingly, the levels of RvD1 in leprosy patients decrease after the conclusion of MDT (). Thus, a reduction in circulating SPM may remove suppressive activity being placed on Th1/Th17 cells and contribute to susceptibility of developing T1R in the presence of M. leprae antigens (Figure 3). Recently, a metabolomics study of sera from leprosy patients with and without T1R, and that had not started MDT, confirmed that the level of RvD1 was significantly increased (9.01-fold) in non-T1R leprosy patients as compared to T1R leprosy patients and healthy controls (). These findings indicate a direct correlation with reduced RvD1 levels and destructive inflammation due to enhanced Th1/Th17 activity and revealed that reduced RvD1 production could occur during active disease.
As the balance of pro-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediators are important in the development and control of inflammation, it is important to note that RvD1 also down-regulates the production of the pro-inflammatory lipid mediator LTB4 (68). LTB4 promotes chemotaxis of Th1 () and Th17 cells () and enhances the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with Th1 responses (TNF-α and IFN-γ) (). Although the concentration of LTB4 in BT and LL patients are similar to healthy individuals (), Silva and colleagues observed a significantly increased level of serum LTB4 during T1R (). Studies to define the mechanisms of RvD1 activity revealed that this SPM inhibits the translocation of 5-LO to the nucleus and this inhibits the synthesis of LTB4 (68). This mechanism would explain why the levels of LTB4 were not increased in leprosy patients without T1R, but with a reduction of RvD1, they become elevated in T1R patients. However, it does not explain why the levels of LTB4 did not increase after MDT in leprosy patients without T1R since this treatment reduced RvD1 concentrations (). It is possible that therapeutic elimination of infection reduces signals and stimuli leading to LTB4 production, as well as those that drive RvD1 production.
In conclusion, although increased RvD1 levels may favor M. leprae infection by modulating the protective innate and adaptive immune responses (i.e., bad with it), at the same time, RvD1 is likely important to avoid exacerbated inflammation that may cause skin and nerve injuries. Once the levels of the RvD1 drop in a leprosy patient (e.g., because of MDT or other factors), we hypothesize that this increases susceptibility to pathogenic Th1 and Th17 responses against M. leprae antigens (i.e., worse without it).
The Balance Between the Pro-Inflammatory LTB4 and the Specialized Pro-Resolving LXA4 in Leprosy
The Higher Levels of LXA4 in Leprosy: A Possible Association with the Chronic Nature of M. leprae Infection
The study of Amaral et al. demonstrated that LXA4 is increased in leprosy patients (). However, the biological function of LXA4 in M. leprae infection is not well understood, but has been studied in M. tuberculosis infection, another model of chronic infectious disease. In the murine model of tuberculosis, Bafica et al. showed that after 1 week of M. tuberculosis infection, LTB4 and LXA4 increase in abundance as compared to uninfected animals, but the levels of LTB4 decrease after 10 days while those of LXA4 persist during chronic M. tuberculosis infection (). Interestingly, mice deficient for 5-LO (5-lo−/−) did not produce LXA4 increasing the resistance against M. tuberculosis due to higher production of Th1-derived cytokines (INF-γ and IL-12). Conversely, the 5-lo−/− mice treated with a LXA4 analog reduce the levels of Th1 cytokines resulting in increased susceptibility to M. tuberculosis (). These results indicate that LXA4 has a more predominant effect than LTB4 during M. tuberculosis infection and that a high LXA4 favors the mycobacterial infection. Similar to the animal studies with M. tuberculosis, infection of humans by M. leprae and the presentation of leprosy, are associated with increased levels of LXA4, but not LTB4 (). This likely reflects the capacity of an M. leprae infection to pass unnoticed for years (1–10 years), presumably due to a protective and non-pathogenic immune response. However, as observed for household contacts, a gradual increase in bacillary load and continuous exposure to antigen, down-modulates the immune response against M. leprae (, 118). Thus, we hypothesize that the reduced capacity of the host to respond to M. leprae, even during an increase in the bacillary load, is exacerbated by a higher production of LXA4. Once this SPM and RvD1 are produced in sufficient amounts they would inhibit the production of LTB4 (68), and thus elevated levels of LXA4, together with RvD1, might favor the chronic infection of M. leprae.
The Link between LXA4/LTB4 Ratios and the Expression of TNF-α in Leprosy
It is suggested that LTB4 and LXA4 modulate the expression or the effects of TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved with the resistance/susceptibility to leprosy (, , 119). Moreover, an imbalance in the ratio of the pro-resolving LXA4 to pro-inflammatory LTB4 (LXA4/LTB4) is related with a poor control of the immune-inflammatory response in humans (120, 121). Collectively, metabolomics data produced with sera of leprosy patients indicate that the balance between LXA4 and LTB4 is altered (, ). However, the mechanisms by which altered ratios of LXA4/LTB4 affect the immunopathology of leprosy remain undefined.
Previous works from Tobin et al. demonstrated that the LXA4/LTB4 ratio was an important factor in susceptibility of zebrafish larvae to Mycobacterium marinum, due to the modulation of TNF-α expression (, 88, 89). Specifically, shunting LTA4 into LXA4 synthesis resulted in an increase in the LXA4/LTB4 ratio and consequently a down-modulation of TNF-α expression (, 88, 89). This culminated in a high bacterial burden, death of infected macrophages and increase in the severity of the disease. In contrast, accumulation of LTB4 enhanced TNF-α expression and enabled macrophage control of infection, but an excess of TNF-α results in the necrosis of macrophages and a higher burden of infection (88, 89). Previous findings support a correlation between the levels of TNF-α and LXA4/LTB4 ratio in leprosy patients. Both paucibacillary and multi-bacillary leprosy patients exhibited similar levels of TNF-α, LTB4 and LXA4 (, , 122). On the other hand, leprosy patients with T1R possess a lower LXA4/LTB4 ratio (), which agrees with increased inflammation and higher levels of TNF-α observed in these patients (123). Thus, the balance between pro-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediators is important to the outcome of infection.
Furthermore, support for the importance of a LXA4/LTB4 balance is provided through population genetics in humans (). Vietnamese and Nepali individuals homozygous for a common promoter polymorphism at the human LTA4H locus display lower protection against tuberculosis and multi-bacillary leprosy, respectively. This polymorphism is associated with deficient (low activity alleles) or excessive (high activity alleles) expression of the LTA4H gene. Conversely, heterozygous individuals displayed a moderated expression of LTA4H gene and consequently a more balanced production of LXA4 and LTB4, due to the presence of both a low-activity allele and a high-activity allele (, 88). As a consequence, heterozygous LTA4H individuals exhibited better protection against mycobacteria infection.
The connection between LTA4H and TNF-α is reciprocal, as TNF-α is able to modulate the expression of LTA4H (124–126). This suggests that the synthesis of TNF-α and the LXA4/LTB4 ratio could be regulated by a feedback loop generated by expression of TNFA and LTA4H (details in Figure 4). Interestingly, polymorphisms in the promoter region of the TNFA are associated with human susceptibility to leprosy (119, 127, 128).
Figure 4
Existing data strongly support the hypothesis that the LXA4/LTB4 ratio in leprosy disease is an important factor in regulation of TNF-α and hence the susceptibility or resistance to M. leprae infection. We hypothesize that an increase in the LXA4/LTB4 ratio leads to lower TNF-α secretion and reduced control of M. leprae replication (Figure 4). However, a decrease in LXA4/LTB4 ratio would promote higher TNFA expression and an intense inflammatory response as observed for leprosy patients with T1R.
A Possible Link Between the Pro/Anti-Inflammatory PGE2 and PGD2 with Immune Pathological Events in Leprosy Patients
PGE2: A Potential Dual Role in M. leprae Infection
PGE2 and PGD2 are increased in LL patients (), and previous studies indicate that foamy macrophages/Schwann cells, a classical hallmark of LL patients, are the main source of prostaglandins (129, 130). The higher levels of PGE2 in LL patients () together with the lower levels in T1R patients () suggest that PGE2 is related to the different clinical forms of leprosy. Indeed, this lipid mediator impairs the proliferation of T cells (, ) and inhibits the activation of macrophages by IFN-γ in M. leprae infection (). Thus, levels of PGE2, produced by foamy macrophages/Schwann cells, can contribute to the inhibition of Th1 responses against M. leprae in LL patients. This may also indicate that lower levels of PGE2 in T1R patients favors the exacerbated acute responses of Th1 cells. Moreover, PGE2 has the ability to augment the suppressive capacity of human CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and up-regulate the expression of transcription factor FOXP3 (). Garg and colleagues demonstrated that PGE2, but not PGD2, promotes the expansion of Treg cells during M. tuberculosis infection (). Thus, the higher frequency of Treg cells, as well as the anergy of Th1 and Th17 cells in LL individuals, could be related with increased amounts of PGE2 secreted by foamy macrophages/Schwann cells (Figure 5). Other mechanisms through which higher levels of PGE2 might affect the differentiation of Th17 and Th1 cells in LL patients include, modulating the secretion of IL-23 by dendritic cells (Figure 5) () and impairment of IL-12 production by dendritic cells ().
Figure 5
There is evidence that at the proper concentration and in the presence of a co-stimulatory signal, PGE2 also stimulates Th1 response. Yao and colleagues showed that treatment of naive T cells with PGE2 and antibody stimulation of CD28 induces the differentiation of Th1 cells (
The Control of NO Production by PGE2
The prostaglandin PGE2 has been shown to also interfere with the control of cell death (
PGE2 Might Differently Influence Apoptosis in Tuberculosis and Leprosy Patients
A potential mechanism by which PGE2 would inhibit the production of NO in LL patients is through the induction of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). PGE2 induces the expression of IGF-I in murine macrophages (133) and osteoblasts (134, 135), and IGF-I inhibits the NOS2 pathway (136). A recent study has demonstrated that increased amounts of IGF-I are found in the skin lesions of LL patients and that IGF-I inhibits signaling cascades required for NO production (137). Therefore, it is possible that the elevated levels of PGE2 could be linked to the inhibition of NO production via the induction of IGF-I in LL patients.
The production of IGF-I, possibly mediated by PGE2, may also promote M. leprae survival by inhibition of apoptosis. Live M. leprae induces the production of IGF-I in Schwann cells and this was found to prevent apoptosis (138). The inhibition of apoptosis could be a significant advantage for M. leprae since this mechanism of cell death promotes the presentation of mycobacterial antigens to T cells (139). Thus, via an IGF-I network, PGE2 may directly impact antigen presentation and favor M. leprae replication (Figure 5). However, a direct functional link between increased IGF-I and PGE2 levels in LL individuals and apoptotic activity needs to be experimentally established.
It is interesting to highlight that the role of PGE2 in M. leprae infection may greatly differ from the function of PGE2 during M. tuberculosis infection. It appears that, during the early phase of infection, virulent M. tuberculosis (H37Rv) inhibits the synthesis of PGE2, by inducing synthesis of LXA4, to prevent apoptosis and consequently inhibit early T-cell activation and promote necrosis of macrophages (
PGD2 in Leprosy: A Lipid Mediator Exploited by the Pathogen or a Host Response to Nerve Damage
Based on the several findings regarding PGD2 and its effects on the modulation of T cells we suggest that PGD2 production via foamy macrophages/Schwann cells promotes Th2 response in LL patients. It is well established that PGD2 decreases the numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that produce IFN-γ and IL-2, through interactions with the DP1 receptor, while contributing to the Th2 responses with induction of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 by binding the CRTH2 receptor (60, 61). Besides a direct effect on T cells, PGD2 modulates the T-cell response through dendritic cells and their production of IL-12 (
One observation that does not fit with the PGD2 immune suppressing scenario in leprosy is that PGD2 levels increase during a T1R (
Individuals with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, an autoimmune disease that directly attack the peripheral nerve myelin (144), have increased levels of PGD synthase enzyme in their cerebrospinal fluid (145). In a murine model of spinal cord contusion injury, the levels of PGD synthase are also elevated (146). Interestingly, although the expression of PGD synthase was never determined, COX-2 is increased during T1R (147, 148). Thus, an increase in PGD2 is not unexpected during T1R as these leprosy patients suffer the most severe nerve damage. PGD2 is known to promote the myelination of neurons (
Given the potentially varied activities of PGD2 at different stages of leprosy, it is important to determine not only the source of this prostaglandin, foamy macrophages/Schwann cells versus mast cells, but also the receptors that bind PGD2 during the different manifestations of leprosy and the cells that are expressing these receptors. Additionally, PGD2 potentiates the formation of edema (
Summation and Conclusion
Through the multiple metabolomics studies performed with clinical samples from leprosy patients it is clear that alterations in the metabolism of lipid mediators derived from ω3 and ω6 PUFA occur with this disease. However, there is a lack of research that directly links these lipid mediators to the breadth of immune responses that occur across the clinical manifestations of leprosy. Detailed investigations to define enzymes and biochemical pathways for lipid mediator synthesis, along with elucidation of lipid mediator receptors and mechanisms by which lipid mediators influence both innate and adaptive immune responses, has nevertheless allowed the development of well supported hypothesis on the function of various lipid mediators in different manifestations of leprosy. A common theme that has emerged from existing studies is that several of the lipid mediators identified in the metabolomics studies of leprosy patients and discussed here (RvD1, LXA4, PGE2, and PGD2) down-regulate the immune-inflammatory responses promoted by Th1 and Th17 cells and facilitate the activity and proliferation Treg cells. This would indicate that M. leprae might exploit the pro-resolving activities of lipid meditators to maintain a persistent infection. Nonetheless, some of these lipid mediators such as PGE2 and PGD2, as well as LTB4 can influence the protective response against M. leprae. Another emerging theme is that alteration of the balance between pro-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediators has the potential to dramatically skew the Th1/Th17 and Treg responses in leprosy. This same concept also applies to variations in the relative concentration of individual products such as PGE2. Thus, a coordination of the dynamics of the lipid mediator response and that of the adaptive and innate immune systems seems to be a driving factor in the specific presentation of leprosy.
As existing and future data are interpreted to develop models of lipid mediator involvement in the pathology and immunology of leprosy, it is important to consider the complexity of lipid mediator metabolism, and that most lipid mediators can serve as ligands for multiple receptors. Additionally, the spatial and temporal aspects of lipid mediator metabolism and receptor expression, along with the complementary or opposing activities of multiple lipid mediators must be addressed to fully elucidate the role lipid mediators play in leprosy. Mathematical models, as performed for M. tuberculosis infection (150), may be important to elucidate the influence PUFA-derived lipid mediator complexity in disease outcomes that might occur in individuals infected with M. leprae. It is also important to highlight that lipid mediators not identified or targeted in previous metabolomics studies on leprosy, may also contribute to immuno-pathogenesis. Thus, further targeted metabolomics investigations supported by orthogonal approaches, such as transcriptomics and proteomics, are needed to elucidate the full complement lipid mediators involved in leprosy and define how systemic alterations in their levels modify the phenotype of innate and adaptive immune cells in different presentations of leprosy. Future research efforts will not only provide an understanding of the contribution of lipid mediators to chronic infectious diseases but also provide the basis for the development of new diagnostic/prognostic and treatment approaches to address leprosy as a public health problem.
Statements
Author contributions
CS and JB contributed to the review of published literature, development of the concepts, and design of the review article, as well as the writing and editing of the manuscript. CS is responsible for the design and concepts of the figures.
Funding
This work was supported by the Heiser Foundation for Leprosy Research of the New York Community Trust, grants P15-000827 and P16-000796 to JB as co-principle investigator (PI) and by the Brazilian Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel through the Science without Borders program (10546-13-8, for the postdoctoral scholarship to CS).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer OM and handling editor declared their shared affiliation.
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Summary
Keywords
leprosy, M. leprae, resolvin, leukotriene, lipoxin, prostaglandin, immune responses, clinical spectrum
Citation
Silva CAM and Belisle JT (2018) Host Lipid Mediators in Leprosy: The Hypothesized Contributions to Pathogenesis. Front. Immunol. 9:134. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00134
Received
27 September 2017
Accepted
16 January 2018
Published
02 February 2018
Volume
9 - 2018
Edited by
Annemieke Geluk, Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands
Reviewed by
Catherine Astarie-Dequeker, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), France; Maziar Divangahi, McGill University, Canada; Oleg Mayboroda, Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands
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Copyright
© 2018 Silva and Belisle.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: John T. Belisle, john.belisle@colostate.edu
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Microbial Immunology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Immunology
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