Assessing Respiratory Immune Responses to Haemophilus Influenzae

Summary

Haemophilus influenzae induces inflammation in the respiratory tract. This article will focus on the use of flow cytometry and confocal microscopy to define immune responses by phagocytes and lymphocytes in response to this bacterium.

Abstract

Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) is a prevalent bacterium found in a range of respiratory conditions. A variety of different assays/techniques may be used to assess the respiratory immune/inflammatory response to this bacterium. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy are fluorescence-based technologies that allow detailed characterization of biological responses. Different forms of Hi antigen can be used, including cell wall components, killed/inactivated preparations, and live bacteria. Hi is a fastidious bacterium that requires enriched media but is generally easy to grow in standard laboratory settings. Tissue samples for stimulation with Hi may be obtained from peripheral blood, bronchoscopy, or resected lung (e.g., in patients undergoing surgery for the treatment of lung cancer). Macrophage and neutrophil function may be comprehensively assessed using flow cytometry with a variety of parameters measured, including phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species, and intracellular cytokine production. Lymphocyte function (e.g., T cell and NK cell function) may be specifically assessed using flow cytometry, principally for intracellular cytokine production. Hi infection is a potent inducer of extracellular trap production, both by neutrophils (NETs) and macrophages (METs). Confocal microscopy is arguably the most optimal way to assess NET and MET expression, which may also be used to assess protease activity. Lung immunity to Haemophilus influenzae can be assessed using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.

Introduction

Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) is a normal commensal bacterium present in the pharynx of most healthy adults. Hi may have a polysaccharide capsule (types A-F, e.g., type B or HiB) or lack a capsule and be nontypeable (NTHi)¹. Colonization of the mucosa with this bacterium begins in early childhood, and there is a turnover of different colonizing strains². This bacterium is also capable of invasion of both the upper and lower respiratory tract; in this context, it may induce activation of the immune response and inflammation^3,4. This inflammatory response ma....

Protocol

This work was approved by the human research ethics committee of Monash Health. The protocol follows the guidelines of the human research ethics committee.

1. Antigenic preparation

NOTE: Three different antigenic preparations can be used to assess the immune response to Hi. These are 1) a subcellular component (typically from the bacterial cell wall); 2) killed and inactivated bacteria; and 3) live bacteria. Determine the use of each antigenic preparation prior to the.......

Discussion

The methods listed here use fluorescence-based flow cytometry and confocal microscopy techniques that can be used in conjunction to obtain detailed information about the inflammatory lung response to Hi.

Establishing the appropriate antigenic formulation of Hi to be used is critical, and it is advisable to have specific input from a microbiologist in this regard. Live Hi induces a stronger response, while killed Hi preparations and Hi components are more standardized and are easier to store. P.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Ammonium chloride	Sigma Aldrich	213330
Brefeldin	Sigma Aldrich	B6542
CD28	Thermofisher	16-0289-81
CD49d	Thermofisher	534048
DAPI prolong gold	Thermofisher	P36931
DHR123	Sigma Aldrich	109244-58-8
Filcon sterile nylon mesh	Becton Dickinson	340606
Gelatin substrate, Enzchek	Molecular probes	E12055
MACS mix tube rotater	Miltenyi Biotec	130-090-753
Medimachine	Becton Dickinson		Catalogue number not available
Medicons 50 µm	Becton Dickinson	340592
Pansorbin	Sigma Aldrich	507858
Propidium iodide	Sigma Aldrich	P4170
Saponin	Sigma Aldrich	8047152
Superfrost slides	Thermofisher	11562203