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Title
Vaccination promotes TH1-like inflammation and survival in chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in
rats.
AuthorJohansen HK; Hougen HP; Cryz SJ Jr; Rygaard J; Høiby N
AddressDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, University Institute of Forensic Medicine, Bartholin Institute,
Copenhagen, Denmark.
Source
Am J Respir Crit Care Med,
152:
4 Pt 1, 1995 Oct,
1337-46
AbstractIn a rat model of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection mimicking cystic fibrosis (CF) we studied
whether the inflammatory response could be altered by vaccination. Rats were immunized with either a
depolymerized alginate toxin A conjugate (D-ALG toxin A), purified alginate, an O-polysaccharide toxin
A conjugate, or sterile saline. After challenge none of the rats immunized with D-ALG toxin A died, in
contrast to the other two vaccine groups combined (p = 0.03). A significant reduction in the severity
of the macroscopic lung inflammation was seen in rats immunized with D-ALG toxin A, compared with the
other three groups (p = 0.009). The histopathologic response in the control rats was dominated by numerous
polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) surrounding the alginate beads. In contrast, the histopathologic response
in rats immunized with D-ALG toxin A changed within the first week after challenge from predominantly
PMNs (TH2-like) to a chronic-type inflammation dominated by mononuclear leukocytes (TH1-like). In accordance,
the antibody titers induced by the D-ALG toxin A vaccine were not different from those of the control
rats after challenge. This study identifies a possible new way of modifying the inflammation and thereby
preventing the PMN-mediated lung tissue damage during chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection in CF.