Clostridium difficile, an etiologic agent for pseudomembranous colitis, accounts for a quarter cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. With the recent emergence of hypervirulent strains, the incidence of C. difficile infection (CDI) has increased significantly in both North America and Europe, causing lengthy hospitalization, substantial morbidity and mortality. CDI is thought to be mainly mediated by exotoxins TcdA and TcdB, which glucosylate low molecular mass GTPase of the Rho family, leading to massive fluid secretion, acute inflammation, and necrosis of the colonic mucosa. Our long-term goal is to understand the mechanisms mediating intestinal inflammation in C. difficile infection and to utilize this knowledge for the design of better immune interventions in order to reduce the incidence of CDI and severity of the disease. The interaction of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) with intestinal antigen presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, in the gut orchestrates mucosal immune homeostasis and inflammatory response. Our objective is to elucidate the immune response of IECs and intestinal DCs after their exposure to C. difficile toxins and to determine the nature of their interaction on initiating intestinal inflammation and tissue destruction. To achieve this objective, we will test several working hypotheses: 1) C. difficile toxin-intoxicated IECs are capable of mobilizing and activating DCs;2) In severe cases of CDI, C. difficile toxins can cross a severely damaged intestinal barrier and further activate DCs and macrophages;and 3) proinflammatory cytokine TNF-a synergizes with the toxins to induce apoptosis of IECs, thus exacerbating tissue destruction and enterocolitis. By testing these hypotheses, we expect to gain a better understanding of not only the underlying mechanisms by which C. difficile toxins induce severe enterocolitis, but also the role of IEC-DC interaction in the onset and development of intestinal inflammatory diseases in general. We believe that such an understanding will help us to design better immune interventions against CDI and other intestinal inflammatory diseases.

Public Health Relevance

Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of hospital-acquired antibiotic-associated diarrhea and the etiologic agent of pseudomembranous colitis, the most severe intestinal inflammation. The diseases are in mainly caused by toxins secreted by the bacteria. The goal of this project is to elucidate the immune response of the intestinal epithelial cells (the first line of cells encountering the toxins) and intestinal dendritic cells (the immune cells regulating intestinal inflammatory response) after their exposure to C. difficile toxins and to determine the nature of their interaction on initiating intestinal inflammation and tissue destruction. We believe the study will help us to design better immune interventions against C. difficile infection and other intestinal inflammatory diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK084509-04
Application #
8278048
Study Section
Gastrointestinal Mucosal Pathobiology Study Section (GMPB)
Program Officer
Grey, Michael J
Project Start
2010-05-01
Project End
2015-04-30
Budget Start
2012-05-01
Budget End
2013-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$285,464
Indirect Cost
$68,742
Name
University of Maryland Baltimore
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
188435911
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21201
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Yu, Hua; Chen, Kevin; Sun, Ying et al. (2017) Cytokines Are Markers of the Clostridium difficile-Induced Inflammatory Response and Predict Disease Severity. Clin Vaccine Immunol 24:
Yang, Zhiyong; Shi, Lianfa; Yu, Hua et al. (2016) Intravenous adenovirus expressing a multi-specific, single-domain antibody neutralizing TcdA and TcdB protects mice from Clostridium difficile infection. Pathog Dis 74:
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Zhu, Zanzan; Shi, Lianfa; Feng, Hanping et al. (2015) Single domain antibody coated gold nanoparticles as enhancer for Clostridium difficile toxin detection by electrochemical impedance immunosensors. Bioelectrochemistry 101:153-8
Yang, Zhiyong; Ramsey, Jeremy; Hamza, Therwa et al. (2015) Mechanisms of protection against Clostridium difficile infection by the monoclonal antitoxin antibodies actoxumab and bezlotoxumab. Infect Immun 83:822-31
Yu, Hua; Chen, Kevin; Wu, Jianguo et al. (2015) Identification of toxemia in patients with Clostridium difficile infection. PLoS One 10:e0124235

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