A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Single-cell transcriptome analysis of the early immune response in the lymph nodes of Borrelia burgdorferi-infected mice



Authors: Rinne, Varpu; Gröndahl-Yli-Hannuksela, Kirsi; Fair-Mäkelä, Ruth; Salmi, Marko; Rantakari, Pia; Lönnberg, Tapio; Alinikula, Jukka; Pietikäinen, Annukka; Hytönen, Jukka

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication year: 2024

Journal: Microbes and Infection

Journal name in source: Microbes and infection

Journal acronym: Microbes Infect

ISSN: 1286-4579

eISSN: 1769-714X

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micinf.2024.105424

Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micinf.2024.105424

Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/458900471


Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is a disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato bacteria. Borrelia burgdorferi is known to induce prolonged extrafollicular immune responses and abnormal germinal centre formation. The infection fails to generate a neutralizing type of immunity, eventually establishing a persistent infection. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize the immune landscape of lymph node lymphocytes during the early Borrelia burgdorferi infection in a murine model. Our results indicate key features of an extrafollicular immune response four days after Borrelia burgdorferi infection, including notable B cell proliferation, immunoglobulin class switching to IgG3 and IgG2b isotypes, plasmablast differentiation, and the presence of extrafollicular B cells identified through immunohistochemistry. Additionally, we found infection-derived upregulation of suppressor of cytokine signalling genes Socs1 and Socs3, along with downregulation of genes associated with MHC II antigen presentation in B cells. Our results support the central role of B cells in the immune response of a Borrelia burgdorferi infection, and provide cues of mechanisms behind the determination between extrafollicular and germinal centre responses during Borrelia burgdorferi infection.

Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.

Funding information in the publication: 
This work was supported by the Special Governmental Fund for University Hospitals, and the Sakari Alhopuro foundation.


Last updated on 2025-27-01 at 19:03