Karen F. Ross

Calprotectin Expression In Vitro by Oral Epithelial Cells Confers Resistance to Infection by Porphyromonas gingivalis

ABSTRACT Calprotectin, an S100 calcium-binding protein with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity in vitro, is expressed in neutrophils, monocytes, and gingival keratinocytes. In periodontitis, calprotectin appears upregulated and is detected at higher levels in gingival crevicular fluid and tissue specimens. How calprotectin contributes to the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases is unknown. To isolate the effects of calprotectin, a calprotectin-negative oral epithelial cell line was transfected with calprotectin genes to enable expression.Porphyromonas gingivalis was permitted to bind and invade transfected cells expressing calprotectin and sham transfectants. Rates of invasion into both cell lines were compared using the antibiotic protection assay. Transfected cells expressing calprotectin showed 40 to 50% fewer internalized P. gingivalis than sham transfectants. Similarly, binding to calprotectin expressing cells was reduced approximately twofold at all time points (15, 30, 45, and 60 min) as estimated by immunofluorescence analysis. Independent of invasion, however, prolonged exposure to P. gingivalisinduced epithelial cell rounding and detachment from the substratum. These morphological changes were delayed, however, in cells expressing calprotectin. Using P. gingivalis protease-deficient mutants, we found that Arg-gingipain and Lys-gingipain contributed to epithelial cell rounding and detachment. In conclusion, expression of calprotectin appears to protect epithelial cells in culture against binding and invasion by P. gingivalis. In addition, cells expressing calprotectin are more resistant to detachment mediated by Arg-gingipain and Lys-gingipain. In periodontal disease, calprotectin may augment both the barrier protection and innate immune functions of the gingival epithelium to promote resistance to P. gingivalis infection.

ANTI-INFECTIVE PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES OF S100 CALGRANULINS.

The calgranulins are a subgroup of proteins in the S100 family (calgranulin A, S100A8; calgranulin B, S100A9 and calgranulin C, S100A12) that provide protective anti-infective and anti-inflammatory functions for the mammalian host. In this review, we discuss the structure-function relationships whereby S100A8 and S100A9, and for comparison, S100A12, provide intra- and extracellular protection during the complex interplay between infection and inflammation and how the calgranulins are regulated to optimally protect the host. Ideally located to support epithelial barrier function, calprotectin, a complex of S100A8/S100A9, is expressed in squamous mucosal keratinocytes and innate immune cells present at mucosal surfaces. The calgranulins are also abundantly produced in neutrophils and monocytes, whereas expression is induced in epidermal keratinocytes, gastrointestinal epithelial cells and fibroblasts during inflammation. The calgranulins show species-specific expression and function. For example, S100A8 is chemotactic in rodents but not in humans. In humans, S100A12 appears to serve as a functional chemotactic homolog to murine S100A8. Transition metal-binding and oxidation sites within calgranulins are able to create structural changes that may orchestrate new protective functions or binding targets. The calgranulins thus appear to adopt a variety of roles to protect the host. In addition to serving as a leukocyte chemoattractant, protective functions include oxidant scavenging, antimicrobial activity, and chemokine-like activities. Each function may reflect the concentration of the calgranulin, post-transcriptional modifications, oligomeric forms, and the proximal intracellular or extracellular environments. Calprotectin and the calgranulins are remarkable as multifunctional proteins dedicated to protecting the intra- and extracellular environments during infection and inflammation.

Calprotectin expression by gingival epithelial cells

ABSTRACT Calprotectin, a heterodimer of MRP8 and MRP14 with antimicrobial properties, is found in the cytosol of neutrophils, monocytes, and human gingival keratinocytes. During inflammation of the oral mucosa, the expression of immunoreactive calprotectin appears upregulated. Given the possible cell sources, we sought to learn if epithelial cells upregulate calprotectin in response to proinflammmatory agents. First, human gingival keratinocytes were maintained in primary culture until senescence. At each passage, cells were harvested and analyzed for quantitative expression of MRP8 and MRP14 subunit mRNA by RNase protection assays and calprotectin complex by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Calprotectin expression was constitutive in the primary gingival keratinocytes, but calprotectin-specific mRNA and protein tended to increase as the cells neared senescence. To test whether calprotectin expression was inducible, immortalized gingival keratinocyte cultures were treated for 2 to 4 h with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin-1β (IL-1β). As a positive control for inducible expression, immortalized keratinocytes were incubated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) (50 ng/ml) for 24 h. Incubation with PMA stimulated increased expression of MRP8 and MRP14 mRNA within 2 h, peaking within 5 h. MRP8- and MRP14-specific mRNA expression by immortalized keratinocytes appeared to be unaffected by LPS or IL-1β. In contrast, LPS, IL-1β, and PMA each upregulated IL-8. These data show that calprotectin mRNA is expressed constitutively in cultured keratinocytes, while expression by immortalized cells appears to be independent of the exogenous proinflammatory agents LPS and IL-1β.

Calprotectin Expression Inhibits Bacterial Binding to Mucosal Epithelial Cells

ABSTRACT Squamous mucosal epithelial cells constitutively express calprotectin in the cytoplasm. To study how this antimicrobial protein complex confers epithelial resistance to invading bacteria, an epithelial cell line was stably transfected to express the calprotectin complex. Cells expressing calprotectin resist invasion byListeria monocytogenes and Salmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium. Calprotectin expression was accompanied by altered actin organization, increased α3 integrin expression, and spreading cell morphology. In this study, we assessed whether calprotectin expression affects bacterial binding and uptake. Threefold-fewerListeria organisms bound to the surfaces of calprotectin-expressing cells, and 10-fold fewer were localized intracellularly by immunofluorescence. Similarly, fewerSalmonella organisms bound to cells expressing calprotectin. Calprotectin-expressing and sham-transfected cells showed similar levels of expression of surface E-cadherin and intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) by flow cytometry. Calprotectin-expressing transfectants expressed calprotectin on the cell surface as well as in the cytosol. In conclusion, two bacterial pathogens showed reduced binding to calprotectin-expressing epithelial cells. Calprotectin-expressing cells appeared to have internalized disproportionately fewer Listeria organisms, suggesting that reduced binding and translocation supplemented direct antimicrobial effects in calprotectin-expressing cells.

Interleukin-1α regulates antimicrobial peptide expression in human keratinocytes

Human epidermis and epithelium serve as physiologic barriers to protect against noxious and infectious agents. Contributing to the defense against infection, epithelial cells express antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The expression of AMPs in keratinocytes is generally regulated directly by bacteria and indirectly by proinflammatory cytokines. Bacteria may also regulate AMP expression by inducing keratinocyte expression of the autonomous proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin‐1α (IL‐1α). To test the hypothesis that AMP expression may be regulated by cell autonomous cytokines, we investigated the effect of IL‐1α on the expression of AMPs in human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) by microarray, northern blot, reverse transcriptase (RT)–PCR and western blot analyses. IL‐1α increased expression of mRNA in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner specific for lipocalin 2, S100A8, S100A9 and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) more than twofold relative to nonstimulated cells (control), and slightly upregulated S100A7 and β‐defensin‐2. Furthermore, the expression of lipocalin 2, S100A7, S100A8, S100A9 and SLPI proteins were upregulated by IL‐1α. On the other hand, HaCaT cells expressed mRNA specific for other AMPs, including cystatin 3, adrenomedullin, RNase‐7 and mucin 5, which were unaffected by IL‐1α treatment. These results suggest that the autonomous keratinocyte cytokine, IL‐1α, selectively upregulates the expression of AMPs which may modulate innate epithelial cell immunity in skin and mucosa.

An Internal Polarity Landmark Is Important for Externally Induced Hyphal Behaviors in Candida albicans

ABSTRACT Directional growth is a function of polarized cells such as neurites, pollen tubes, and fungal hyphae. Correct orientation of the extending cell tip depends on signaling pathways and effectors that mediate asymmetric responses to specific environmental cues. In the hyphal form of the eukaryotic fungal pathogen Candida albicans, these responses include thigmotropism and galvanotropism (hyphal turning in response to changes in substrate topography and imposed electrical fields, respectively) and penetration into semisolid substrates. During vegetative growth in C. albicans, as in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Ras-like GTPase Rsr1 mediates internal cellular cues to position new buds in a prespecified pattern on the mother cell cortex. Here, we demonstrate that Rsr1 is also important for hyphal tip orientation in response to the external environmental cues that induce thigmotropic and galvanotropic growth. In addition, Rsr1 is involved in hyphal interactions with epithelial cells in vitro and its deletion diminishes the hyphal invasion of kidney tissue during systemic infection. Thus, Rsr1, an internal polarity landmark in yeast, is also involved in polarized growth responses to asymmetric environmental signals, a paradigm that is different from that described for the homologous protein in S. cerevisiae. Rsr1 may thereby contribute to the pathogenesis of C. albicans infections by influencing hyphal tip responses triggered by interaction with host tissues.

Calprotectin S100A9 calcium-binding loops I and II are essential for keratinocyte resistance to bacterial invasion.

Epithelial cells expressing calprotectin, a heterodimer of S100A8 and S100A9 proteins, are more resistant to bacterial invasion. To determine structural motifs that affect resistance to bacterial invasion, mutations were constructed in S100A9 targeting the calcium-binding loops I and II (E36Q, E78Q, E36Q,E78Q) and the C terminus (S100A91–99 and S100A91–112), which contains putative antimicrobial zinc-binding and phosphorylation sites. The S100A8 and mutated S100A9 encoding plasmids were transfected into calprotectin-negative KB carcinoma cells. All transfected cells (except KB-sham) expressed 27E10-reactive heterodimers. In bacterial invasion assays with Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (Salmonella typhimurium), cell lines expressing S100A8 in complex with S100A9E36Q, S100A9E78Q, S100A91–99, or S100A91–112 mutants or the S100A91–114 (full-length) calprotectin resisted bacterial invasion better than KB-sham. When compared with KB-S100A8/A91–114, cells expressing truncated S100A91–99 or S100A91–112 with S100A8 also showed increased resistance to bacterial invasion. In contrast, glutamic acid residues 36 and 78 in calcium-binding loops I and II promote resistance in epithelial cells, because cells expressing S100A9E36Q,E78Q with S100A8 were unable to resist bacterial invasion. Mutations in S100A9 E36Q, E78Q were predicted to cause loss of the calcium-induced positive face in calprotectin, reducing interactions with microtubules and appearing to be crucial for keratinocyte resistance to bacterial invasion.

Cleavage of protease-activated receptors on an immortalized oral epithelial cell line by Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipains

Porphyromonas gingivalis activates protease-activated receptors (PARs) on oral keratinocytes, resulting in downstream signalling for an innate immune response. Activation depends on P. gingivalis gingipains, but could be confounded by lipopolysaccharide signalling through Toll-like receptors. We therefore hypothesized that P. gingivalis cleaves oral keratinocyte PARs in an Arg- (Rgp) or Lys- (Kgp) gingipain-specific manner to upregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines. Immortalized human oral keratinocytes (TERT-2) were incubated with wild-type P. gingivalis (ATCC 33277) or strains from a panel of isogenic gingipain deletion mutants: Kgp-deficient (KDP 129); Rgp-deficient (KDP 133); or Kgp- and Rgp-deficient (KDP 136). After incubation with P. gingivalis, keratinocytes were probed with specific antibodies against the N-terminus of PAR-1 and PAR-2. Using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence, receptor cleavage was marked by loss of specific antibody binding to the respective PARs. TERT-2 cells constitutively expressed high levels of PAR-1 and PAR-2, and lower levels of PAR-3. P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 cleaved PAR-1 and PAR-2 in a dose-dependent manner, while the receptors were unaffected by the protease-negative double mutant (KDP 136) at all m.o.i. tested. The single Kgp-negative mutant preferentially cleaved PAR-1, whereas the Rgp-negative mutant cleaved PAR-2. Wild-type or Kgp-negative mutant cleavage of PAR-1 upregulated expression of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha; the Rgp-negative mutant did not modulate these cytokines. Selective cleavage of PAR-1 on oral epithelial cells by P. gingivalis Rgp therefore upregulates expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Porphyromonas gingivalis Selectively Up-Regulates the HIV-1 Coreceptor CCR5 in Oral Keratinocytes

Primary infection of oral epithelial cells by HIV-1, if it occurs, could promote systemic infection. Most primary systemic infections are associated with R5-type HIV-1 targeting the R5-specific coreceptor CCR5, which is not usually expressed on oral keratinocytes. Because coinfection with other microbes has been suggested to modulate cellular infection by HIV-1, we hypothesized that oral keratinocytes may up-regulate CCR5 in response to the oral endogenous pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis by cysteine-protease (gingipains) activation of the protease-activated receptors (PARs) or LPS signaling through the TLRs. The OKF6/TERT-2-immortalized normal human oral keratinocyte line expressed CXCR4, whereas CCR5 was not detectable. When exposed to P. gingivalis ATCC 33277, TERT-2 cells induced greater time-dependent expression of CCR5-specific mRNA and surface coreceptors than CXCR4. By comparing arg- (Rgp) and lys-gingipain (Kgp) mutants, a mutant deficient in both proteases, and the action of trypsin, P. gingivalis Rgp was strongly suggested to cleave PAR-1 and PAR-2 to up-regulate CCR5. CCR5 was also slightly up-regulated by an isogenic gingipain-deficient mutant, suggesting the presence of a nongingipain-mediated mechanism. Purified P. gingivalis LPS also up-regulated CCR5. Blocking TLR2 and TLR4 receptors with Abs attenuated induction of CCR5, suggesting LPS signaling through TLRs. P. gingivalis, therefore, selectively up-regulated CCR5 by two independent signaling pathways, Rgp acting on PAR-1 and PAR-2, and LPS on TLR2 and TLR4. By inducing CCR5 expression, P. gingivalis coinfection could promote selective R5-type HIV-1 infection of oral keratinocytes.

Subversion of antimicrobial calprotectin (S100A8/S100A9 complex) in the cytoplasm of TR146 epithelial cells after invasion by Listeria monocytogenes

Expressed by squamous mucosal keratinocytes, calprotectin is a complex of two EF-hand calcium-binding proteins of the S100 subfamily (S100A8 and S100A9) with significant antimicrobial activity. Calprotectin-expressing cells resist invasion by Porphyromonas gingivalis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. typhimurium). To understand the interactions between calprotectin and invasive bacteria, we studied the distribution of calprotectin in the cytoplasm of TR146 epithelial cells. In response to L. monocytogenes, calprotectin mobilized from a diffuse cytoplasmic distribution to a filamentous pattern and colocalized with the microtubule network. Listeria more frequently invaded cells with mobilized calprotectin. Calprotectin mobilization was listeriolysin O-dependent and required calcium (extracellular and intracellular) and an intact microtubule network. In the presence of preformed microtubules in vitro, the anti-Listeria activity of calprotectin was abrogated. To facilitate intraepithelial survival, therefore, Listeria mobilizes calprotectin to colocalize with cytoplasmic microtubules, subverting anti-Listeria activity and autonomous cellular immunity.