Bordetella pertussis-infected human monocyte-derived dendritic cells undergo maturation and induce Th1 polarization and interleukin-23 expression

Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, is internalized by several cell types, including epithelial cells, monocytes, and neutrophils. Although its ability to survive intracellularly is still debated, it has been proven that cell-mediated immunity (CMI) plays a pivotal role in protection. In this study we aimed to clarify the interaction of B. pertussis with human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDC), evaluating the ability of the bacterium to enter MDDC, to survive intracellularly, to interfere with the maturation process and functional activities, and to influence the host immune responses. The results obtained showed that B. pertussis had a low capability to be internalized by-and to survive in-MDDC. Upon contact with the bacteria, immature MDDC were induced to undergo phenotypic maturation and acquired antigen-presenting-cell functions. Despite the high levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and the barely detectable levels of IL-12 induced by B. pertussis, the bacterium induced maturation of MDDC and T helper 1 (Th1) polarized effector cells. Gene expression analysis of the IL-12 cytokine family clearly demonstrated that B. pertussis induced high levels of the p40 and p19 subunits of IL-23 yet failed to induce the expression of the p35 subunit of IL-12. Overall our findings show that B. pertussis, even if it survives only briefly in MDDC, promotes the synthesis of IL-23, a newly discovered Th1 polarizing cytokine. A Th1-oriented immune response is thus allowed, relevant in the induction of an adequate CMI response, and typical of protection induced by natural infection or vaccination with whole-cell vaccines.