Unraveling the immunopathogenesis of Johne’s disease

Research Press Release | April 02, 2018

A research team has unraveled the immunopathogenesis of Johne’s disease, a chronic bovine disease that has caused endemics in Japan and many other countries, placing financial burdens on cattle farmers.


Researchers of Hokkaido University, the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), and Tohoku University demonstrated that a physiologically active substance called prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) impairs the immune response by upregulating the expression of an immunoinhibitory molecule, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), in cattle affected with Johne’s disease. The discovery is expected to help develop a method to control Johne’s disease, which is most frequently reported among legally designated infectious bovine diseases in Japan.


Ox showing significant weight loss

One of the cattle with Johne’s disease showing significant weight loss. Photo provided by National Agriculture and Food Research Organization.


Johne’s disease is a type of chronic enteritis caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, leading to diarrhea and weight loss in cattle, and occasionally death. This disease has led to endemics in Japan and 816 clinical cases were reported in 2017. Cattle diagnosed with the disease must be culled to prevent its spread. Cattle farmers are also required to give regular check-ups to all other cattle at the same farm for a certain period, disinfect their cattle barns and are not allowed to move animals out of the farm freely. There has been no effective method to prevent the spread of the disease, including vaccination.


The researchers investigated the immunosuppressive effects of PGE2, which is known to appear in increased amounts in cattle with Johne’s disease. Their experiments showed PGE2 has immunosuppressive effects on T-cell, a type of lymphocyte that plays an important role in the immune system. PGE2 also induced the upregulation of PD-L1, a immunosuppressive molecule, in immune cells isolated from cows. The researchers also found PGE2 and PD-L1 were co-expressed in intestinal lesions of the infected cattle.


Immunohistochemical analysis

Immunohistochemical analysis showing expression of PGE2 (left) and PD-L1 (right) in the ileal mucosa of a cow with Johne’s disease.


In addition, they found that the inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which is involved in the synthesis of PGE2, boosted immune response to the mycobacteria causing Johne’s disease. When COX-2 inhibitor is combined with anti-PD-L1 blocking antibodies, it further enhances the immune response to the mycobacteria.


“Our data suggests that immunosuppressive effects of PGE2 are strongly connected to the progression of Johne’s disease,” says Associate Professor Satoru Konnai of the research team at Hokkaido University. “We plan to conduct clinical trials to verify how the COX-2 inhibitor and anti-PD-L1 antibodies boost immune responses in cattle with Johne’s disease, in addition to examining the roles of PGE2 in cattle afflicted with other diseases.”



Original article:

Sajiki Y., et al., Prostaglandin E2 induction suppresses the Th1 immune responses in cattle with Johne’s disease, Infection and Immunity, February 26, 2018.

DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00910-17


Funding information:

This work was partly funded by the Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS), the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), the Platform Project for Supporting Drug Discovery and Life Science Research (Basis for Supporting Innovative Drug Discovery and Life Science Research, BINDS) of Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).


Contacts:

Associate Professor Satoru Konnai

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Hokkaido University

Email: konnai[at]vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp


Naoki Namba (Media Officer)

Global Relations Office

Institute for International Collaboration

Hokkaido University

Tel: +81-11-706-2185

Email: pr[at]oia.hokudai.ac.jp


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