Antje Blumenthal

Mycobacteria-induced TNF-alpha and IL-10 formation by human macrophages is differentially regulated at the level of mitogen-activated protein kinase activity.

The clinical course of mycobacterial infections is linked to the capacity of pathogenic strains to modulate the initial antimycobacterial response of the macrophage. To elucidate some of the mechanisms involved, we studied early signal transduction events leading to cytokine formation by human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) in response to clinical isolates of Mycobacterium avium. TNF-α production induced by M. avium was inhibited by anti-CD14 mAbs, but not by Abs against the macrophage mannose receptor. Analysis of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, p38, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase) showed a rapid phosphorylation of all three subfamilies in response to M. avium, which was inhibited by anti-CD14 Abs. Using highly specific inhibitors of p38 (SB203580) and MAP kinase kinase-1 (PD98059), we found that activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway, but not of p38, was essential for the M. avium-induced TNF-α formation. In contrast, IL-10 production was abrogated by the p38 inhibitor, but not by the MAP kinase kinase-1 inhibitor. In conclusion, M. avium-induced secretion of TNF-α and IL-10 by human macrophages is differentially regulated at the level of MAP kinase activity.

Induction of ER Stress in Macrophages of Tuberculosis Granulomas

Background The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway known as the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is an adaptive survival pathway that protects cells from the buildup of misfolded proteins, but under certain circumstances it can lead to apoptosis. ER stress has been causally associated with macrophage apoptosis in advanced atherosclerosis of mice and humans. Because atherosclerosis shares certain features with tuberculosis (TB) with regard to lesional macrophage accumulation, foam cell formation, and apoptosis, we investigated if the ER stress pathway is activated during TB infection. Principal Findings Here we show that ER stress markers such as C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP; also known as GADD153), phosphorylated inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha (Ire1α) and eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α), and activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) are expressed in macrophage-rich areas of granulomas in lungs of mice infected with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). These areas were also positive for numerous apoptotic cells as assayed by TUNEL. Microarray analysis of human caseous TB granulomas isolated by laser capture microdissection reveal that 73% of genes involved in the UPR are upregulated at the mRNA transcript level. The expression of two ER stress markers, ATF3 and CHOP, were also increased in macrophages of human TB granulomas when assayed by immunohistochemistry. CHOP has been causally associated with ER stress-induced macrophage apoptosis. We found that apoptosis was more abundant in granulomas as compared to non-granulomatous tissue isolated from patients with pulmonary TB, and apoptosis correlated with CHOP expression in areas surrounding the centralized areas of caseation. Conclusions In summary, ER stress is induced in macrophages of TB granulomas in areas where apoptotic cells accumulate in mice and humans. Although macrophage apoptosis is generally thought to be beneficial in initially protecting the host from Mtb infection, death of infected macrophages in advanced granulomas might favor dissemination of the bacteria. Therefore future work is needed to determine if ER-stress is causative for apoptosis and plays a role in the host response to infection.

Expression of Many Immunologically Important Genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Infected Macrophages Is Independent of Both TLR2 and TLR4 but Dependent on IFN-αβ Receptor and STAT1

Macrophages respond to several subcellular products of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) through TLR2 or TLR4. However, primary mouse macrophages respond to viable, virulent Mtb by pathways largely independent of MyD88, the common adaptor molecule for TLRs. Using microarrays, quantitative PCR, and ELISA with gene-disrupted macrophages and mice, we now show that viable Mtb elicits the expression of inducible NO synthase, RANTES, IFN-inducible protein 10, immune-responsive gene 1, and many other key genes in macrophages substantially independently of TLR2, TLR4, their combination, or the TLR adaptors Toll-IL-1R domain-containing adapter protein and Toll-IL-1R domain-containing adapter inducing IFN-β. Mice deficient in both TLR2 and TLR4 handle aerosol infection with viable Mtb as well as congenic controls. Viable Mtb also up-regulates inducible NO synthase, RANTES, IFN-inducible protein 10, and IRG1 in macrophages that lack mannose receptor, complement receptors 3 and 4, type A scavenger receptor, or CD40. These MyD88, TLR2/4-independent transcriptional responses require IFN-αβR and STAT1, but not IFN-γ. Conversely, those genes whose expression is MyD88 dependent do not depend on IFN-αβR or STAT1. Transcriptional induction of TNF is TLR2/4, MyD88, STAT1, and IFN-αβR independent, but TNF protein release requires the TLR2/4-MyD88 pathway. Thus, macrophages respond transcriptionally to viable Mtb through at least three pathways. TLR2 mediates the responses of a numerically minor set of genes that collectively do not appear to affect the course of infection in mice; regulation of TNF requires TLR2/4 for post-transcriptional control, but not for transcriptional induction; and many responding genes are regulated through an unknown, TLR2/4-independent pathway that may involve IFN-αβR and STAT1.

Evaluating the sensitivity of mycobacterium tuberculosis to biotin deprivation using regulated gene expression

In the search for new drug targets, we evaluated the biotin synthetic pathway of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and constructed an Mtb mutant lacking the biotin biosynthetic enzyme 7,8-diaminopelargonic acid synthase, BioA. In biotin-free synthetic media, ΔbioA did not produce wild-type levels of biotinylated proteins, and therefore did not grow and lost viability. ΔbioA was also unable to establish infection in mice. Conditionally-regulated knockdown strains of Mtb similarly exhibited impaired bacterial growth and viability in vitro and in mice, irrespective of the timing of transcriptional silencing. Biochemical studies further showed that BioA activity has to be reduced by approximately 99% to prevent growth. These studies thus establish that de novo biotin synthesis is essential for Mtb to establish and maintain a chronic infection in a murine model of TB. Moreover, these studies provide an experimental strategy to systematically rank the in vivo value of potential drug targets in Mtb and other pathogens.

Control of Mycobacterial Replication in Human Macrophages: Roles of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases 1 and 2 and p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways

ABSTRACT Intracellular persistence of mycobacteria may result from an intricate balance between bacterial replication and signaling events leading to antimicrobial macrophage activities. Using human monocyte-derived macrophages, we investigated the relevance of mitogen-activated protein kinase activation for the growth control of Mycobacterium avium isolates differing in their abilities to multiply intracellularly. The highly replicative smooth transparent morphotype of M. avium strain 2151 induced significantly less p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation than the smooth opaque morphotype of the same strain, which was gradually eliminated from macrophage cultures. Inhibition of the p38 pathway by highly specific inhibitors did not significantly affect mycobacterial replication within macrophages, regardless of the in vitro virulence of the M. avium strain. However, repression of the ERK1/2 pathway further enhanced intracellular growth of highly replicative M. avium strains, although it did not increase survival of the poorly replicating M. avium isolate. Inhibition of the ERK1/2 pathway resulted in decreased tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-α) secretion irrespective of the virulence of the M. avium isolate used for infection, revealing that TNF-α could have been only partially responsible for the control of intracellular M. avium growth. In conclusion, ERK1/2- and TNF-α-independent pathways are sufficient to limit intramacrophage growth of less-virulent M. avium strains, but early ERK1/2 activation in infected macrophages is critically involved in controlling the growth of highly replicative M. avium strains.

Common and Unique Gene Expression Signatures of Human Macrophages in Response to Four Strains of Mycobacterium avium That Differ in Their Growth and Persistence Characteristics

ABSTRACT Classification of pathogenic species according to the distinct host transcriptional responses that they elicit may become a relevant tool for microarray-based diagnosis of infection. Individual strains of Mycobacterium avium, an opportunistic pathogen in humans, have previously been shown to differ in terms of growth and persistence. In order to cover a wide spectrum of virulence, we selected four M. avium isolates (2151SmO, 2151SmT, SE01, TMC724) that have distinct intramacrophage replication characteristics and cause differential activation in human macrophages. Following infection with each of these strains, the expression of 12,558 genes in human macrophages was systematically analyzed by microarray technology. Fifty genes (including genes encoding proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, signaling, and adhesion molecules) were differentially expressed more than twofold in response to all of the M. avium isolates investigated and therefore constitute a common macrophage signature in response to M. avium. The magnitude of regulation of most of these genes was directly correlated with the host cell-activating capacity of the particular M. avium strain. The regulation of a number of genes not previously associated with mycobacterial infections was apparent; these genes included genes encoding lymphocyte antigen 64 and myosin X. In addition, individual response patterns typical for some M. avium isolates could be defined by the pronounced upregulation of interleukin-12p40 (IL-12p40) (in the case of 2151SmO) or the specific upregulation of SOCS-1 and IL-10 (in the case of SE01) in macrophages. TMC724, a strain of avian origin, could not be classified by any one of these schemes, possibly indicating the limits of pathogen categorization solely by immune response signatures.

Simultaneous Analysis of Multiple Mycobacterium tuberculosis Knockdown Mutants In Vitro and In Vivo

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) represents one of the most persistent bacterial threats to human health and new drugs are needed to limit its impact. Conditional knockdown mutants can help validate new drug targets, but the analysis of individual mutants is laborious and time consuming. Here, we describe quantitative DNA tags (qTags) and their use to simultaneously analyze conditional Mtb knockdown mutants that allowed silencing the glyoxylate and methylcitrate cycles (via depletion of isocitrate lyase, ICL), the serine protease Rv3671c, and the core subunits of the mycobacterial proteasome, PrcB and PrcA. The impact of gene silencing in multi-strain cultures was determined by measuring the relative abundance of mutant-specific qTags with real-time PCR. This achieved accurate quantification over a broad range of qTag abundances and depletion of ICL, Rv3671c, or PrcBA resulted in the expected impairment of growth of Mtb with butyrate as the primary carbon source, survival during oxidative stress, acid stress and starvation. The impact of depleting ICL, Rv3671c, or PrcBA in multi-strain mouse infections was analyzed with two approaches. We first measured the relative abundance of mutant-specific qTags in total chromosomal DNA isolated from bacteria that were recovered from infected lungs on agar plates. We then developed a two-step amplification procedure, which allowed us to measure the abundances of individual mutants directly in infected lung tissue. Both strategies confirmed that inactivation of Rv3671c and PrcBA severely reduced persistence of Mtb in mice. The multi-strain infections furthermore suggested that silencing ICL not only prevented growth of Mtb during acute infections but also prevented survival of Mtb during chronic infections. Analyses of the ICL knockdown mutant in single-strain infections confirmed this and demonstrated that silencing of ICL during chronic infections impaired persistence of Mtb to the extent that the pathogen was cleared from the lungs of most mice.

RP105 Facilitates Macrophage Activation by Mycobacterium tuberculosis Lipoproteins

RP105, phylogenetically related to Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, is reported to facilitate B cell activation by the TLR4-agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS)--but to limit LPS-induced cytokine production by antigen-presenting cells. Here, we show that the role of RP105 extends beyond LPS recognition and that RP105 positively regulates macrophage responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) lipoproteins. Mtb-infected RP105(-/-) mice exhibited impaired proinflammatory cytokine responses associated with enhanced bacterial burden and increased lung pathology. The Mtb 19 kDa lipoprotein induced release of tumor necrosis factor in a manner dependent on both TLR2 and RP105, and macrophage activation by Mtb lacking mature lipoproteins was not RP105 dependent. Thus, mycobacterial lipoproteins are RP105 agonists. RP105 physically interacted with TLR2, and both RP105 and TLR2 were required for optimal macrophage activation by Mtb. Our data identify RP105 as an accessory molecule for TLR2, forming part of the receptor complex for innate immune recognition of mycobacterial lipoproteins.

LprG-mediated surface expression of lipoarabinomannan is essential for virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis employs various virulence strategies to subvert host immune responses in order to persist and cause disease. Interaction of M. tuberculosis with mannose receptor on macrophages via surface-exposed lipoarabinomannan (LAM) is believed to be critical for cell entry, inhibition of phagosome-lysosome fusion, and intracellular survival, but in vivo evidence is lacking. LprG, a cell envelope lipoprotein that is essential for virulence of M. tuberculosis, has been shown to bind to the acyl groups of lipoglycans but the role of LprG in LAM biosynthesis and localization remains unknown. Using an M. tuberculosis lprG mutant, we show that LprG is essential for normal surface expression of LAM and virulence of M. tuberculosis attributed to LAM. The lprG mutant had a normal quantity of LAM in the cell envelope, but its surface was altered and showed reduced expression of surface-exposed LAM. Functionally, the lprG mutant was defective for macrophage entry and inhibition of phagosome-lysosome fusion, was attenuated in macrophages, and was killed in the mouse lung with the onset of adaptive immunity. This study identifies the role of LprG in surface-exposed LAM expression and provides in vivo evidence for the essential role surface LAM plays in M. tuberculosis virulence. Findings have translational implications for therapy and vaccine development.

Non-muscle myosin IIA is required for the development of the zebrafish glomerulus

Mutations in the MYH9 gene, coding for the non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NMHC-IIA), are responsible for syndromes characterized by macrothrombocytopenia associated with deafness, cataracts, and severe glomerular disease. Electron microscopy of renal biopsies from these patients found glomerular abnormalities characterized by alterations in mesangial cells, podocytes, and thickening of the glomerular basement membrane. Knockout of NMHC-IIA in mice is lethal, and therefore little is known about the glomerular-related functions of Myh9. Here, we use zebrafish as a model to study the role and function of zNMHC-IIA in the glomerulus. Knockdown of zNMHC-IIA resulted in malformation of the glomerular capillary tuft characterized by few and dilated capillaries of the pronephros. In zNMHC-IIA morphants, endothelial cells failed to develop fenestrations, mesangial cells were absent or reduced, and the glomerular basement membrane appeared nonuniformly thickened. Knockdown of zNMHC-IIA did not impair the formation of podocyte foot processes or slit diaphragms; however, podocyte processes were less uniform in these morphants compared to controls. In vivo clearance of fluorescent dextran indicated that the glomerular barrier function was not compromised by zNMHC-IIA knockdown; however, glomerular filtration was significantly reduced. Thus, our results demonstrate an important role of zNMHC-IIA for the proper formation and function of the glomerulus in zebrafish.