IL-6 Signaling Protects Zebrafish Larvae during < em > Staphylococcus epidermidis < /em > Infection in a Bath Immersion Model

J Immunol. 2021 Sep 20:ji2000714. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000714. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe host immune responses to Staphylococcus epidermidis, a frequent cause of nosocomial infections, are not well understood. We have established a bath immersion model of this infection in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. Macrophages play a primary role in the host immune response and are involved in clearance of infection in the larvae. S. epidermidis infection results in upregulation of tlr-2 There is marked inflammation characterized by heightened NF-κB signaling and elevation of several proinflammatory cytokines. There is rapid upregulation of il-1b and tnf-a transcripts, whereas an increase in il-6 levels is relatively more delayed. The IL-6 signaling pathway is further amplified by elevation of IL-6 signal transducer (il-6st) levels, which negatively correlates with miRNA dre-miR-142a-5p. Enhanced IL-6 signaling is protective to the host in this model as inhibition of the signaling pathway resulted in increased mortality upon S. epidermidis infection. Our study describes the host immune responses to S. epidermidis infection, establishes the importance of IL-6 signaling, and identifies a potential role of miR-142-5p-il-6st interaction in this infection model.PMID:34544800 | DOI:10.4049/jimmunol.2000714
Source: Journal of Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Source Type: research