Progenitor mast cells and tryptase in Q fever

Soraya Mezouar (1, 2, 3) , Victor Morel (1, 2, 3) , Laury Leveille (1, 2, 3) , Noémie Resseguier (4) , Céline Chartier (1) , Didier Raoult (3, 2, 1) , Jean-Louis Mege (3, 2, 1) , Joana Vitte (3, 2, 1)

1 IHU Marseille - Institut Hospitalier Universitaire Méditerranée Infection
2 IRD Marseille - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) Marseille
3 MEPHI - Microbes évolution phylogénie et infections
4 AMU - Aix Marseille Université

Q fever is an infectious disease due to Coxiella burnetii. Following a primary-infection, C. burnetii may persist in some patients, leading to endocarditis and vascular infections. Mast cells (MCs), known for their role in allergic diseases, innate immunity and cardiac function, are produced by bone marrow, circulate as progenitors in the bloodstream and reach tissues for their maturation and activation. The latter may be estimated by measuring serum tryptase levels. We wondered if MC progenitors and tryptase were affected in Q fever. We showed a decrease in MC progenitor count in Q fever patients whereas serum tryptase levels were increased. Taken together, our results show alterations of MC numbers and activity in Q fever patients, suggesting that MC are involved in Q fever pathophysiology.

Keywords: Coxiella burnetii; Flow cytometry; Mast cells progenitors; Q fever; Tryptase

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Microbiology and Parasitology; Bacteriology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Human health and pathology; Infectious diseases

Soraya Mezouar, Victor Morel, Laury Leveille, Noémie Resseguier, Céline Chartier, et al.. Progenitor mast cells and tryptase in Q fever. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2019, 64, pp.159-162. ⟨10.1016/j.cimid.2019.03.011⟩. ⟨hal-02158738⟩