Małgorzata Bzowska

Persistent skin colonization with Staphylococcus aureus in atopic dermatitis: relationship to clinical and immunological parameters

Background Staphylococcus aureus has important implications for the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). In some patients S. aureus can be eradicated from the skin during anti‐inflammatory treatment, while in others bacterial colonization is persistent. Potential mechanisms and features of these two distinct groups of patients are not known.

Phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by Macrophages Exerts Cytoprotective Effects Manifested by the Upregulation of Antiapoptotic Factors

It is becoming increasingly apparent that Staphylococcus aureus are able to survive engulfment by macrophages, and that the intracellular environment of these host cells, which is essential to innate host defenses against invading microorganisms, may in fact provide a refuge for staphylococcal survival and dissemination. Based on this, we postulated that S. aureus might induce cytoprotective mechanisms by changing gene expression profiles inside macrophages similar to obligate intracellular pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. To validate our hypothesis we first ascertained whether S. aureus infection could affect programmed cell death in human (hMDMs) and mouse (RAW 264.7) macrophages and, specifically, protect these cells against apoptosis. Our findings indicate that S. aureus-infected macrophages are more resistant to staurosporine-induced cell death than control cells, an effect partly mediated via the inhibition of cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis of human monocyte-derived macrophages during S. aureus infection revealed a significant increase in the expression of antiapoptotic genes. This was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR analysis of selected genes involved in mitochondria-dependent cell death, clearly showing overexpression of BCL2 and MCL1. Cumulatively, the results of our experiments argue that S. aureus is able to induce a cytoprotective effect in macrophages derived from different mammal species, which can prevent host cell elimination, and thus allow intracellular bacterial survival. Ultimately, it is our contention that this process may contribute to the systemic dissemination of S. aureus infection.

Inactivation of membrane tumor necrosis factor alpha by gingipains from Porphyromonas gingivalis.

ABSTRACT Gingipains are cysteine proteinases produced by Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major causative bacterium of adult periodontitis. They consist of arginine-specific (HRgpA and RgpB) and lysine-specific (Kgp) proteinases. Gingipains strongly affect the host defense system by degrading some cytokines, components of the complement system, and several immune cell receptors. In an in vitro model, gingipains were shown to degrade soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). However, since membrane TNF-α shows strong biological activity, especially in local inflammatory lesions, it was worth investigating whether gingipains might also destroy membrane TNF-α and limit its biological activities. To avoid a possible influence of gingipains on ADAM17, the secretase of TNF-α, the majority of experiments were performed using ADAM17−/− fibroblasts stably transfected with cDNA of human pro-TNF-α (ADAM17−/− TNF+). Arginine-specific gingipains (Rgps) strongly diminished the level of TNF-α on the cell surface as measured by flow cytometry, and this process was not accompanied by an increased concentration of soluble TNF-α in the culture medium. Degradation of membrane TNF-α by Rgps correlated with a strong decrease in TNF-α-mediated biological activities of ADAM17−/− TNF+ cells. First, the activation state of transcription factor NF-κB was suppressed; second, the cells were no longer able to induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells. Kgp was also able to cleave membrane TNF-α, but its effect was much weaker than that of Rgps. Gingipains also limited the binding of native TNF-α to the target cells. Thus, gingipains are able not only to cleave soluble TNF-α but also to destroy the membrane form of the cytokine, which may additionally dysregulate the cytokine network.

Increased IL-10 production during spontaneous apoptosis of monocytes.

Monocytes/macrophages undergo apoptosis and are in contact with apoptotic cells both in vitro and in vivo. The data show that monocytes undergoing spontaneous apoptosis in vitro change their cytokine production profile. We demonstrate that the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced production of interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) is up‐regulated, while production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) is either not affected or reduced. These differences seen both at the protein and mRNA level directly correlate with the appearance of apoptotic cells in the culture. Flow cytometry analysis using double staining, surface with annexin V and intracellular with anti‐IL‐10, suggested that annexin V‐negative monocytes are the predominant source of IL‐10. Analysis of sorted populations of monocytes indicated that the increase in IL‐10 synthesis appears to result from direct interactions between non‐apoptotic and apoptotic cells at the time of stimulation. Also non‐apoptotic, freshly isolated monocytes produced more IL‐10 upon stimulation with LPS, Staphylococcus aureus or zymosan when apoptotic neutrophils were added to the culture. In contrast, monocyte‐derived macrophages did not produce more IL‐10 in the presence of apoptotic neutrophils. Finally, we found that the presence of apoptotic monocytes in the culture may influence specific immune responses. The data show that in the presence of annexin V‐positive monocytes CD4‐positive memory T cells produce less IFN‐γ upon stimulation with purified protein derivative of tuberculin, which could be partially reversed by anti‐IL‐10 neutralizing antibodies. We conclude that these findings might illustrate the mechanisms operating within an inflammatory site and play an important immunoregulatory role during the resolution of inflammation and specific immune responses.

A New Pathway of Staphylococcal Pathogenesis: Apoptosis-Like Death Induced by Staphopain B in Human Neutrophils and Monocytes

Circulating neutrophils and monocytes form the first line of cellular defense against invading bacteria. Here, we describe a novel and specific mechanism of disabling and eliminating phagocytes by Staphylococcus aureus. Staphopain B (SspB) selectively cleaved CD11b on phagocytes, which rapidly acquired features of cell death. SspB-treated phagocytes expressed phosphatidylserine as well as annexin I and became permeable to propidium iodide, thus demonstrating distinctive features of both apoptosis and necrosis, respectively. The cell death observed was caspase and Syk tyrosine kinase independent, whilst cytochalasin D efficiently inhibited the staphopain-induced neutrophil killing. Neutrophil and monocyte cell death was not affected by integrin clustering ligands (ICAM-1 or fibrin) and was prevented, and even reversed, by IgG. This protective effect was dependent on the Fc fragment, collectively suggesting cooperation of the CD16 receptor and integrin Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18). We conclude that SspB, particularly in the presence of staphylococcal protein A, may reduce the number of functional phagocytes at infection sites, thus facilitating colonization and dissemination of S. aureus.

Staphylococcal cysteine protease staphopain B (SspB) induces rapid engulfment of human neutrophils and monocytes by macrophages

Abstract Circulating neutrophils and monocytes constitute the first line of antibacterial defence, which is responsible for the phagocytosis and killing of microorganisms. Previously, we have described that the staphylococcal cysteine proteinase staphopain B (SspB) cleaves CD11b on peripheral blood phagocytes, inducing the rapid development of features of atypical cell death in protease-treated cells. Here, we report that exposure of phagocytes to SspB critically impairs their antibacterial functions. Specifically, SspB blocks phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by both neutrophils and monocytes, represses their chemotactic activity and induces extensive, nonphlogistic clearance of SspB-treated cells by macrophages. The proteinase also cleaves CD31, a major repulsion (‘do not-eat-me’) signal, on the surface of neutrophils. We suggest that both proteolytic degradation of repulsion signals and induction of ‘eat-me’ signals on the surface of leukocytes are responsible for the observed intensive phagocytosis of SspB-treated neutrophils by human monocyte-derived macrophages. Collectively, this may lead to the depletion of functional neutrophils at the site of infection, thus facilitating staphylococcal colonisation and spreading.

Regulation of platelet adhesion by oxidized lipoproteins and oxidized phospholipids.

Activated platelets adhere to the endothelium and release vasoactive mediators which induce vasoconstriction and remodeling of the vessel wall. The influence of native and ex vivo oxidized lipoproteins enriched with oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (ox-PAPC), the major lipid responsible for the biological activity of minimally oxidized LDL (mm-LDL), on platelet adhesion, membrane receptor expression and aggregation was studied. Influence of native and oxidized lipoproteins (5-100 w g protein/ml); ox-PAPC (0.5-50 w g/ml); ADP (1-10 w M) as well as the specific phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitor okadaic acid (3-10 w M) on platelet adhesion, receptor expression and aggregation was measured. Platelets adhered to all the classes of lipoproteins immobilized in plastic microtiter wells (native lipoproteins: HDL<LDL<VLDL<oxidized lipoproteins<ox-PAPC-enriched lipoproteins). Flow cytometry revealed that lipoproteins increased CD41 expression. Preincubation of platelets with ox-PAPC alone, significantly up-regulated CD62p and CD41 receptors (higher dose) but potently inhibited anti-CD36 MoAb binding. Okadaic acid increased anti-CD41 and decreased anti-CD36 and anti-CD42b MoAbs binding. Neither ox-PAPC nor okadaic acid induced platelet aggregation. CD36 seems to be the main receptor responsible for binding of oxidized lipoproteins, particularly its ox-PAPC epitope. The effect of okadaic acid on CD36 and CD41 argue for the participation of phosphorylation-dependent reorganization of cellular trafficking and microtubule organization by ox-PAPC.

Oxidized LDLs Inhibit TLR-induced IL-10 Production by Monocytes: A New Aspect of Pathogen-Accelerated Atherosclerosis

It is widely accepted that oxidized low-density lipoproteins and local infections or endotoxins in circulation contribute to chronic inflammatory process at all stages of atherosclerosis. The hallmark cells of atherosclerotic lesions—monocytes and macrophages—are able to detect and integrate complex signals derived from lipoproteins and pathogens, and respond with a spectrum of immunoregulatory cytokines. In this study, we show strong inhibitory effect of oxLDLs on anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 production by monocytes responding to TLR2 and TLR4 ligands. In contrast, pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor secretion was even slightly increased, when stimulated with lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis—an oral pathogen associated with atherosclerosis. The oxLDLs modulatory activity may be explained by altered recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns, which involves serum proteins, particularly vitronectin. We also suggest an interaction between vitronectin receptor, CD11b, and TLR2. The presented data support a novel pathway for pathogen-accelerated atherosclerosis, which relies on oxidized low-density lipoprotein-mediated modulation of anti-inflammatory response to TLR ligands.

Effects of elastase and cathepsin G on the levels of membrane and soluble TNFα

Abstract Neutrophil elastase (NE) and cathepsin G (CG), the proteolytic enzymes localized in azurophil granules of neutrophils (PMN), are involved in PMN responses to various stimuli. When released at sites of inflammation, they participate in the degradation of numerous proteins involved in the regulation of the immune response. In this study, we employed ADAM17-/- fibroblasts stably transfected with cDNA of human pro-tumor necrosis factor α (proTNFα) (ADAM17-/-TNF+) to investigate the effects of NE and CG on shedding and degradation of TNFα. Both NE and CG were found to diminish the level of membrane TNFα (mTNFα) as measured by flow cytometry. This process was accompanied by the accumulation of biologically active soluble TNFα (sTNFα) in the culture medium, as determined by an increase in both the cytotoxic activity of TNFα and its ability to serve as a co-stimulator in the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). However, in contrast to CG, NE at high concentrations was able to degrade sTNFα released from the cell surface. Using soluble recombinant human TNFα, we identified Val93-Ala94 and Val117-Glu118 as the NE cleavage sites within the sTNFα molecule. Taken together, the ability of NE and CG to modulate levels of membrane and soluble forms of TNFα may contribute to the proinflammatory activity of neutrophils.

Rapid Decrease of CD16 (FcγRIII) Expression on Heat-Shocked Neutrophils and Their Recognition by Macrophages

Accumulation of neutrophils in the site of inflammation is a typical mechanism of innate immunity. The accumulated neutrophils are exposed to stressogenic factors usually associated with inflammation. Here, we studied response of human peripheral blood neutrophils subjected to short, febrile-range heat stress. We show that 90 min heat stress slowed down the spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils. In the absence of typical markers of apoptosis the heat-shocked neutrophils induced antiinflammatory effect in human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDMs), yet without being engulfed. Importantly, the expression of FcγRIII (CD16) was sharply reduced. Surprisingly, concentration of the soluble CD16 did not change in heat-shocked neutrophil supernates indicating that the reduction of the cell surface CD16 was achieved mainly by inhibition of fresh CD16 delivery. Inhibitors of 90 kDa heat shock protein (HSP90), a molecular chaperone found in membrane platforms together with CD16 and CD11b, significantly increased the observed effects caused by heat shock. The presented data suggest a novel systemic aspect of increased temperature which relies on immediate modification by heat of a neutrophil molecular pattern. This effect precedes cell death and may be beneficial in the initial phase of inflammation providing a nonphlogistic signal to macrophages before it comes from apoptotic cells.