Properties of Yersinia enterocolitica porins: interference with biological functions of phagocytes, nitric oxide production and selective cytokine release

Galectin-1 Cooperates with Yersinia Outer Protein (Yop) P to Thwart Protective Immunity by Repressing Nitric Oxide Production

Yersinia enterocolitica (Ye) inserts outer proteins (Yops) into cytoplasm to infect host cells. However, in spite of considerable progress, the mechanisms implicated in this process, including the association of Yops with host proteins, remain unclear. Here, we evaluated the functional role of Galectin-1 (Gal1), an endogenous β-galactoside-binding protein, in modulating Yop interactions with host cells. Our results showed that Gal1 binds to Yops in a carbohydrate-dependent manner. Interestingly, Gal1 binding to Yops protects these virulence factors from trypsin digestion. Given that early control of Ye infection involves activation of macrophages, we evaluated the role of Gal1 and YopP in the modulation of macrophage function. Although Gal1 and YopP did not influence production of superoxide anion and/or TNF by Ye-infected macrophages, they coordinately inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production. Notably, recombinant Gal1 (rGal1) did not rescue NO increase observed in Lgals1-/- macrophages infected with the YopP mutant Ye ∆yopP. Whereas NO induced apoptosis in macrophages, no significant differences in cell death were detected between Gal1-deficient macrophages infected with Ye ∆yopP, and WT macrophages infected with Ye wt. Strikingly, increased NO production was found in WT macrophages treated with MAPK inhibitors and infected with Ye wt. Finally, rGal1 administration did not reverse the protective effect in Peyer Patches (PPs) of Lgals1-/- mice infected with Ye ∆yopP. Our study reveals a cooperative role of YopP and endogenous Gal1 during Ye infection.

Offense and defense: microbial membrane vesicles play both ways

Microbes have evolved over millennia to become adapted and specialized to the environments that they occupy. These environments may include water or soil, extreme environments such as hydrothermal vents, and can even include a host organism. To become adapted to these locations, microbes have evolved specific tools to mediate interactions with the environment. One such tool that prokaryotes have evolved includes the production of membrane vesicles (MVs). MVs are 10-300 nm spherical blebs derived from the outermost membrane and have known functions in protein secretion, immune activation and suppression, stress response, attachment, internalization and virulence. In this review, we consider the highly conserved role of membrane vesicles derived from Gram-negative, Gram-positive and archaeal species as a mechanism to facilitate intermicrobial and microbe-host interaction. We examine both the offensive and defensive capabilities of MVs in regard to the interaction of MVs with both host and microbial cells in their environment.

Virulence and immunomodulatory roles of bacterial outer membrane vesicles

Outer membrane (OM) vesicles are ubiquitously produced by Gram-negative bacteria during all stages of bacterial growth. OM vesicles are naturally secreted by both pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria. Strong experimental evidence exists to categorize OM vesicle production as a type of Gram-negative bacterial virulence factor. A growing body of data demonstrates an association of active virulence factors and toxins with vesicles, suggesting that they play a role in pathogenesis. One of the most popular and best-studied pathogenic functions for membrane vesicles is to serve as natural vehicles for the intercellular transport of virulence factors and other materials directly into host cells. The production of OM vesicles has been identified as an independent bacterial stress response pathway that is activated when bacteria encounter environmental stress, such as what might be experienced during the colonization of host tissues. Their detection in infected human tissues reinforces this theory. Various other virulence factors are also associated with OM vesicles, including adhesins and degradative enzymes. As a result, OM vesicles are heavily laden with pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), virulence factors, and other OM components that can impact the course of infection by having toxigenic effects or by the activation of the innate immune response. However, infected hosts can also benefit from OM vesicle production by stimulating their ability to mount an effective defense. Vesicles display antigens and can elicit potent inflammatory and immune responses. In sum, OM vesicles are likely to play a significant role in the virulence of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens.

Cytokine release and expression induced by OmpA proteins from the Gram-negative anaerobes, Porphyromonas asaccharolytica and Bacteroides fragilis

OmpA proteins from Gram-negative anaerobes Porphyromonas asaccharolytica and Bacteroides fragilis induced release and expression of IL-1alpha, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-6, and IL-10 from murine splenocytes in vitro in a dose-dependent fashion. The release of the cytokines induced by B. fragilis Bf-OmpA was at much lower levels compared with P. asaccharolytica Omp-PA; Bf-OmpA did not induce release of IL-10. Omp-PA and Bf-OmpA were able to upregulate mRNA expression of the tested cytokines. The results obtained with refolded Bf-OmpA were similar to those with native Bf-OmpA. The data presented in this research demonstrate for the first time that Omps from anaerobic bacteria can induce the release of cytokines, suggesting that Omp-PA and Bf-OmpA may play important roles in the pathogenic processes of these bacteria.

TNF-α, H2O2 and NO response of peritoneal macrophages to Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 derivatives

In this study, the effect of Yersinia derivatives on nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production by murine peritoneal macrophages was investigated. Addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to the macrophage culture resulted in NO production that was dose dependent. On the other hand, bacterial cellular extract (CE) and Yersinia outer proteins (Yops) had no effect on NO production. The possible inhibitory effect of Yops on macrophage cultures stimulated with LPS was investigated. Yops partially inhibited NO production (67.4%) when compared with aminoguanidine. The effects of Yersinia derivatives on H2O2 production by macrophages were similar to those on NO production. LPS was the only derivative that stimulated H2O2 release in a dose-dependent manner. All Yersinia derivatives provoked the production of TNF-alpha, but LPS had the strongest effect, as observed for NO production. CE and Yops stimulated TNF-alpha production to a lesser extent than LPS. The results indicate the possibility that in vivo Yops may aid the evasion of the bacteria from the host defense mechanism by impairing the secretion of NO by macrophages.

Bacterial components induce cytokine and intercellular adhesion molecules-1 and activate transcription factors in dermal fibroblasts

This study investigated the effect of various structural components of Gram-positive (lipotheichoic acid and protein A) and Gram-negative (porins and lipopolysaccharide) bacteria on human dermal fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are important effector cells which have a potential role in augmenting the inflammatory response in various diseases. In this study we present a profile of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8, the expression of intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1) and the activation of transcriptional nuclear factor NF-kB and AP-1 in human dermal fibroblasts stimulated by bacterial surface components. Compared to the controls, increased ICAM-1, IL-6 and IL-8 gene expression after stimulation of LPS and porins at 2 and 4 h was more evident than that obtained following stimulation of LTA and PA. Gene expression was also associated with the production of cytokine proteins in culture supernatants. TNF-alpha gene expression remained undetectable. Moreover, LPS and porin treatments determined IkBalpha phosphorylation and degradation in human dermal fibroblasts and the subsequent activation of nuclear factors NF-kB and AP-1. These data suggest the importance of such stimuli in the first step of the inflammatory process, as well as the important role played by fibroblasts in skin inflammatory disease.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae porin modifies the oxidative burst of human professional phagocytes

A hallmark of infection with the gram-negative bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the local infiltration and subsequent activation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Several gonococcal outer membrane proteins are involved in the interaction with and the activation of these phagocytes, including gonococcal porin, the most abundant protein in the outer membrane. Previous work suggests that this porin plays a role in various cellular processes, including inhibiting neutrophils activation and phagosome maturation in professional phagocytes. Here we investigated the ability of porin to modify the oxidative metabolism of human peripheral blood neutrophils and monocytes in response to particulate stimuli (including live gonococci) and soluble agents. The activation of the oxidative metabolism was determined by chemiluminescence amplified with either luminol or lucigenin. We found that treatment of the phagocytes with porin inhibits the release of reactive oxygen species measured as luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence in response to zymosan, latex particles, and gonococci. The engulfment of these particles was not, however, affected by porin treatment. Similar effects of porin on the chemiluminescence response were observed in cytochalasin B-treated neutrophils exposed to the soluble chemotactic peptide N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. This indicates that porin selectively inhibits granule fusion with those cellular membranes that are in direct contact with porin, namely, the phagosomal and plasma membranes. This porin-induced downregulation of oxidative metabolism may be a potent mechanism by which gonococci modulate oxygen-dependent reactions by activated phagocytes at inflammation sites.

Expression of interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-6 in human peripheral blood leukocytes exposed to human granulocytic ehrlichiosis agent or recombinant major surface protein P44

Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) is an emerging febrile systemic disease caused by the HGE agent, an obligatory intracellular bacterium of granulocytes. The pathogenicity- and immunity-related mechanisms of HGE are unknown. In this study, several cytokines generated in human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) incubated with the HGE agent or a recombinant 44-kDa major surface protein (rP44) of the HGE agent were examined by reverse transcription-PCR and a capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The HGE agent induced expression of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and IL-6 mRNAs and proteins in PBLs in a dose-dependent manner to levels as high as those resulting from Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide stimulation. The kinetics of induction of these three cytokines in PBLs by rP44 and by the HGE agent were similar. Proteinase K treatment of the HGE agent or rP44 eliminated the ability to induce these three cytokines. Induction of these cytokine mRNAs was not dependent on superoxide generation. These results suggest that P44 proteins have a major role in inducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines by PBLs. Expression of IL-8, IL-10, gamma interferon, transforming growth factor beta, and IL-2 mRNAs in response to the HGE agent was not remarkable. Among PBLs, neutrophils and lymphocytes expressed IL-1beta mRNA but not TNF-alpha or IL-6 mRNA in response to the HGE agent, whereas monocytes expressed all three of these cytokine mRNAs. These observations suggest that induction of proinflammatory-cytokine gene expression by the major outer membrane protein of the HGE agent in monocytes, which are not the primary host cells of the HGE agent, contributes to HGE pathogenesis and immunomodulation.

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis blocks the phagosomal acidification of B10.A mouse macrophages through the inhibition of vacuolar H(+)-ATPase activity

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis survived and multiplied in the phagosomes of B10.A mouse peritoneal macrophages. As one of the possible mechanisms for the bacteria's survival in the phagosomes, we demonstrated that live Y. pseudotuberculosis inhibited the phagosomal acidification; pH within phagosomes containing the live Y. pseudotuberculosis remained at about 6.0, whereas pH within phagosomes containing the dead Y. pseudotuberculosis fell to about 4. 5. This ability to inhibit intraphagosomal acidification was also shared by mutants lacking the 42 Md virulence plasmid, indicating that it is chromosomally encoded. The phagosomes containing dead bacteria raised the pH to 6.2 after the treatment of their macrophages with an inhibitor (bafilomycin A1) specific for V-ATPase. Although the amount of V-ATPase in the A and B subunits on the phagosomes was not significantly different between the live and dead bacteria infection, the phagosomes containing live bacteria had a 10-fold smaller V-ATPase activity than those containing the dead bacteria. These results indicated that the inhibition of phagosomal acidification by Y. pseudotuberculosis infection was due to the attenuation of V-ATPase activity, and not due to the exclusion of V-ATPase subunits from the phagosome membrane as found in Mycobacterium avium.

Porin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa induces apoptosis in an epithelial cell line derived from rat seminal vesicles

Micromolar concentrations of porin, purified from the outer membranes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, induced in vitro the classic morphological and biochemical signs of apoptosis in an epithelial cell line (SVC1) derived from the rat seminal vesicle secretory epithelium. The programmed cell death (PCD) was p53 independent and associated with significant decrease of bcl-2 expression, a marked increase of c-myc transcriptional activity, and an absence of the mRNA coding for tissue transglutaminase. The Ca(2+) influx, caused by the porin treatment of SVC1 cells, appears to play an important role in the triggering of apoptosis in our biological model. The possibility that the porin property of inducing PCD plays a role in the infertility of individuals chronically infected by gram-negative bacteria is discussed.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor p55 controls the severity of arthritis in experimental Yersinia enterocolitica infection

OBJECTIVE

To dissect the host defense mechanisms in relation to the development of Yersinia-associated arthritis by evaluating the impact of tumor necrosis factor receptor p55 (TNFRp55) deficiency on Yersinia enterocolitica infection.

METHODS

TNFRp55-/- and C57BL/6 mice were inoculated intravenously with arthritogenic strain 8081 of Yenterocolitica serotype 0:8. Mice were observed daily for generating survival curves and monitoring arthritis. In subsequent sets of experiments, mice were sacrificed at day 14 after infection for examination of histopathology of joints, bacterial clearance, macrophage microbicidal activity, nitric oxide (NO) production, oxidative burst generation, and cytokine production.

RESULTS

There was an 80% mortality rate in TNFRp55-/- mice compared with 25% in the controls at 8 weeks after inoculation with 70 colony-forming units of Y. enterocolitica 0:8. Histologic examination of joint tissues revealed that TNFRp55-/- mice developed more severe arthritis, including cartilage degradation and bony destruction, than controls at day 14 after infection. The more extensive joint pathology in TNFRp55-/- mice was correlated with the higher bacterial load in liver, spleen, and lungs, and with the increased levels of interleukin-10. TNFRp55-/- mice displayed impaired intracellular killing of bacteria by macrophages. This was associated with decreased NO production and impaired oxidative burst activity.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that TNF signaling through TNFRp55 controls the severity of Yersinia-induced arthritis and implicates TNF-mediated macrophage microbicidal activity as a central event in this process.

Porins and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Salmonella typhimurium induce leucocyte transmigration through human endothelial cells in vitro

Bacteria or bacterial products may constitute important inducers of surface molecule expression on endothelial cells and leucocytes. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of the Salmonella typhimurium porins, LPS-S and LPS-R on the transendothelial migration of leucocytes through human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Treatment of the HUVEC with either porins or LPS-S or LPS-R increased the transmigration of different leucocyte populations, in particular that of neutrophils. The maximal increase occurred using LPS-S treatment, whereas porin stimulation fell between LPS-S and LPS-R. The transmigration increase was dose-dependent and reached its maximum at about 100-1000 ng/ml of stimulus. Optimal endothelial activation occurred after 2-4 h and 4-6 h using LPS and porin, respectively. Stimulation of leucocytes with either porins or LPS slightly increased their transmigration through non-activated endothelial cells. Transmigration increased remarkably during the simultaneous stimulation of endothelial cells by IL-1ss together with either porins or LPS. To assess participation of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and leucocyte adhesion complex (CD11/18) in porin- or LPS-mediated leucocyte migration, blocking MoAbs were used. Each blocking MoAb partially and selectively decreased leucocyte transmigration. The obtained results contribute to clarify some aspects of the inflammatory process at sites of infection.

Nitric oxide production and nitric oxide synthase type 2 expression by human mononuclear phagocytes: a review

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Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 are induced in human oral epithelial cells in response to exposure to periodontopathic Eikenella corrodens

Periodontitis is the inflammatory response in periodontal tissues elicited by bacterial colonization in periodontal pockets. In this response, pocket epithelial cells are the first cells to come into contact with bacteria. To elucidate this mechanism, we determined the adherence of the periodontopathic bacterium Eikenella corrodens 1073, which has a GalNAc-sensitive lectin-like adhesin (EcLS), to a human oral epithelial carcinoma cell line (KB) and the induction of proinflammatory cytokine production in the cells following exposure to this bacterium in vitro. In the adherence assay, EcLS played a role as the adhesin of this bacterium in adherence to KB cells. In a reverse transcriptase PCR, significant interleukin-8 (IL-8) and IL-6 mRNA levels were induced in response to exposure to this bacterium. In an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after an 8-h bacterial exposure, the IL-8 and IL-6 protein levels were 13.5- and 8.3-fold higher than those in the nonexposed controls, respectively. These protein responses were time dependent. Interestingly, when E. corrodens was separated from KB cells by cell culture inserts, a slight stimulation of the IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA and secreted protein levels was seen. These results imply that the direct contact of E. corrodens 1073 with oral epithelial cells is not necessarily required for the stimulation of IL-6 and IL-8 secretion. We suggest that E. corrodens induces the epithelial cells to secrete proinflammatory cytokines which serve as an early signaling system to host immune and inflammatory cells in underlying connective tissues.

Porins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa induce release of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 by human leukocytes

The aim of this study was to examine the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa components to induce release of cytokines from human leukocytes. Human whole-blood cultures were incubated with several concentrations of purified P. aeruginosa products, including porins, exomucopolysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide, and toxin A. Supernatants were assayed for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) activities. All of the P. aeruginosa components except toxin A were able to stimulate the release of both cytokines. On a weight basis, porins were as effective as lipopolysaccharide and significantly more effective than exomucopolysaccharide in inducing IL-6 release (P < 0.05). Moreover, porins were more potent than either exomucopolysaccharide or lipopolysaccharide in inducing TNF-alpha release (P < 0.05). Further experiments using isolated leukocytes suggested that monocytes were the cell population predominantly responsible for the production of both cytokines. These data indicate that P. aeruginosa porins are able to induce significant cytokine production. These components may be responsible for the chronically overactive inflammatory response associated with persistent lung infection in cystic fibrosis patients.

Bacterial porins stimulate bone resorption

Porins are abundant outer membrane proteins of gram-negative bacteria involved in transport of low-molecular-mass molecules. During the past decade, porins from a number of bacteria have also been shown to have proinflammatory activities including inducing the synthesis of proinflammatory mediators (cytokines, platelet-activating factor, and nitric oxide) in cultured cells and inducing inflammation in vivo. With this range of actions, it was possible that porins could also interact with bone cells to cause aberrant bone remodeling and that this could contribute to the bone destruction seen in gram-negative bone infections. By using purified preparations of Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa porins, in the presence of polymyxin B, it was possible to induce concentration-dependent loss of calcium from cultured murine calvaria at porin concentrations in the range of 1 to 10 nM. The mechanism of action of the porins was determined by the inclusion of inhibitors of cyclooxygenase or inflammatory cytokines in the culture media. The bone-resorbing activity of both porins was not inhibited by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin or by neutralizing the activity of tumor necrosis factor. Indeed, relatively high concentrations of these agents produced an unexpected increase in the bone resorption induced by the porins. In contrast, porin-induced bone resorption could be inhibited by relatively high concentrations of the natural inhibitor of interleukin-1 (IL-1 receptor antagonist). It appears that these porins stimulate bone resorption by a mechanism distinct from that of lipopolysaccharide, and the possibility therefore exists that porins play a role in bone destruction in gram-negative bacterial infections of bone.

Exposure of blood to biomaterial surfaces liberates substances that activate polymorphonuclear granulocytes

Human whole blood, anticoagulated or not, was exposed to hydrophilic glass surfaces or methylated hydrophobic glass surfaces under saline cover. Platelet-poor plasma or serum was prepared after 10 minutes of exposure, measured in respect to complement activation, and transferred to a suspension of granulocytes, which acted as bioprobes. The granulocytes were prepared from blood, anticoagulated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and evaluated regarding intracellular Ca2+ concentration (Calcium Green-1 fluorescence), integrin expression (CD-11b immunohistochemistry), respiratory burst (chemiluminescence), and priming (increase in N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced respiratory burst). The results indicate that humoral factors formed during the surface exposure of blood were able to activate the probe granulocytes. The exposure to hydrophilic surfaces led to a calcium transient three times the magnitude of that of hydrophobic surfaces. This response could be blocked by the presence of heparin during the blood-surface exposure but was not affected by the addition of heparin to the probe granulocytes. Hirudin, a specific thrombin blocker, had no effect. The exposure to hydrophobic surfaces led to complement activation in serum that induced priming and respiratory burst of the probe granulocytes. In conclusion, the study provides evidence that hydrophilic-hydrophobic surface treatment significantly affects the immediate inflammatory response of a blood-biomaterial interaction that is moderated by the presence of heparin.

Bacterial modulins: a novel class of virulence factors which cause host tissue pathology by inducing cytokine synthesis

Cytokines are a diverse group of proteins and glycoproteins which have potent and wide-ranging effects on eukaryotic cell function and are now recognized as important mediators of tissue pathology in infectious diseases. It is increasingly recognized that for many bacterial species, cytokine induction is a major virulence mechanism. Until recent years, the only bacterial component known to stimulate cytokine synthesis was lipopolysaccharide (LPS). It is only within the past decade that it has been clearly shown that many components associated with the bacterial cell wall, including proteins, glycoproteins, lipoproteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, have the capacity to stimulate mammalian cells to produce a diverse array of cytokines. It has been established that many of these cytokine-inducing molecules act by mechanisms distinct from that of LPS, and thus their activities are not due to LPS contamination. Bacteria produce a wide range of virulence factors which cause host tissue pathology, and these diverse factors have been grouped into four families: adhesins, aggressins, impedins, and invasins. We suggest that the array of bacterial cytokine-inducing molecules represents a new class of bacterial virulence factor, and, by analogy with the known virulence families, we suggest the term "modulin" to describe these molecules, because the action of cytokines is to modulate eukaryotic cell behavior. This review summarizes our current understanding of cytokine biology in relation to tissue homeostasis and disease and concisely reviews the current literature on the cytokine-inducing molecules produced by gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, with an emphasis on the cellular mechanisms responsible for cytokine induction. We propose that modulins, by controlling the host immune and inflammatory responses, maintain the large commensal flora that all multicellular organisms support.