An important role of prostanoid receptor EP2 in host resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice

J Infect Dis. 2012 Dec 15;206(12):1816-25. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jis609. Epub 2012 Oct 2.

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, resides and replicates within susceptible hosts by inhibiting host antimicrobial mechanisms. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), produced by M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages, exerts a variety of immunomodulatory functions via 4 receptors (EP1-EP4), each mediating distinct PGE(2) functions. Here, we show that M. tuberculosis infection selectively upregulates EP2 messenger RNA expression in CD4(+) T cells. We found that EP2 deficiency in mice increases susceptibility to M. tuberculosis infection, which correlated with reduced antigen-specific T-cell responses and increased levels of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T-regulatory cells. These findings have revealed an important role for EP2 in host immune defense against tuberculosis. As a G protein-coupled receptor, EP2 could serve as a target for immunotherapy of tuberculosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / analysis
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / analysis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype / genetics
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / chemistry
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • Tuberculosis / genetics*
  • Tuberculosis / immunology*

Substances

  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Il2ra protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype