Olle Stendahl

Mycobacterium tuberculosis promotes apoptosis in human neutrophils by activating caspase-3 and altering expression of Bax/Bcl-xL via an oxygen-dependent pathway.

In addition to direct bactericidal activities, such as phagocytosis and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), neutrophils can regulate the inflammatory response by undergoing apoptosis. We found that infection of human neutrophils with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) induced rapid cell death displaying the characteristic features of apoptosis such as morphologic changes, phosphatidylserine exposure, and DNA fragmentation. Both a virulent (H37Rv) and an attenuated (H37Ra) strain of Mtb were equally effective in inducing apoptosis. Pretreatment of neutrophils with antioxidants or an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase markedly blocked Mtb-induced apoptosis but did not affect spontaneous apoptosis. Activation of caspase-3 was evident in neutrophils undergoing spontaneous apoptosis, but it was markedly augmented and accelerated during Mtb-induced apoptosis. The Mtb-induced apoptosis was associated with a speedy and transient increase in expression of Bax protein, a proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family, and a more prominent reduction in expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL. Pretreatment with an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase distinctly suppressed the Mtb-stimulated activation of caspase-3 and alteration of Bax/Bcl-xL expression in neutrophils. These results indicate that infection with Mtb causes ROS-dependent alteration of Bax/Bcl-xL expression and activation of caspase-3, and thereby induces apoptosis in human neutrophils. Moreover, we found that phagocytosis of Mtb-induced apoptotic neutrophils markedly increased the production of proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α by human macrophages. Therefore, the ROS-dependent apoptosis in Mtb-stimulated neutrophils may represent an important host defense mechanism aimed at selective removal of infected cells at the inflamed site, which in turn aids the functional activities of local macrophages.

YopH of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis interrupts early phosphotyrosine signalling associated with phagocytosis.

The PTPase YopH of Yersinia is essential to the ability of these bacteria to block phagocytosis. Wild‐type Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, but not the yopH mutant strain, resisted phagocytosis by J774 cells. Ingestion of a yopH mutant was dependent on tyrosine kinase activity. Transcomplementation with wild‐type yopH restored the anti‐phagocytic effect, whereas introduction of the gene encoding the catalytically inactive yopHC403A was without effect. The PTPase inhibitor orthovanadate impaired the anti‐phagocytic effect of the wild‐type strain, further demonstrating the importance of bacteria‐derived PTPase activity for this event. The ability to resist phagocytosis indicates that the effect of the bacterium is immediately exerted when it becomes associated with the phagocyte. Within 30 s after the onset of infection, wild‐type Y. pseudotuberculosis caused a YopH‐dependent dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosine proteins in J774 cells. Furthermore, interaction of the cells with phagocytosable strains led to a rapid and transient increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin and some other proteins, an event dependent on the presence of the bacterial surface‐located protein invasin. Co‐infection with the phagocytosable strain and the wild‐type strain abolished the induction of tyrosine phosphorylation. Taken together, the present findings demonstrate an immediate YopH‐mediated dephosphorylation of macrophage phosphotyrosine proteins, suggesting that this PTPase acts by preventing early phagocytosis‐linked signalling in the phagocyte.

Cathepsin-cleaved Bid promotes apoptosis in human neutrophils via oxidative stress-induced lysosomal membrane permeabilization

Lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) is emerging as an important regulator of cell apoptosis. Human neutrophils are highly granulated phagocytes, which respond to pathogens by exhibiting increased production of reative oxygen species (ROS) and lysosomal degranulation. In a previous study, we observed that intracellular, nonphagosomal generation of ROS triggered by adherent bacteria induced ROS‐dependent neutrophil apoptosis, whereas intraphagosomal production of ROS during phagocytosis had no effect. In the present study, we measured lysosomal membrane stability and leakage in human neutrophils and found that adherent, noningested, Type 1‐fimbriated Escherichia coli bacteria induced LMP rapidly in neutrophils. Pretreatment with the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodonium markedly blocked the early LMP and apoptosis in neutrophils stimulated with Type 1‐fimbriated bacteria but had no effect on the late LMP seen in spontaneously apoptotic neutrophils. The induced lysosomal destabilization triggered cleavage of the proapoptotic Bcl‐2 protein Bid, followed by a decrease in the antiapoptotic protein Mcl‐1. Involvement of LMP in initiation of apoptosis is supported by the following observations: Bid cleavage and the concomitant drop in mitochondrial membrane potential required activation of cysteine‐cathepsins but not caspases, and the differential effects of inhibitors of cysteine‐cathepsins and cathepsin D on apoptosis coincided with their ability to inhibit Bid cleavage in activated neutrophils. Together, these results indicate that in microbe‐induced apoptosis in neutrophils, ROS‐dependent LMP represents an early event in initiation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, which is followed by Bid cleavage, mitochondrial damage, and caspase activation.

Pathogen-Induced Apoptotic Neutrophils Express Heat Shock Proteins and Elicit Activation of Human Macrophages

Ingestion of aged or irradiated apoptotic neutrophils actively suppresses stimulation of macrophages (Mφ). Many bacterial pathogens can also provoke apoptosis in neutrophils, but little is known about how such apoptotic cells influence Mφ activation. We found that neutrophils undergoing apoptosis induced by UV irradiation, Escherichia coli, or Staphylococcus aureus could either stimulate or inhibit Mφ activation. In contrast to Mφ that had ingested irradiated apoptotic neutrophils, Mφ that had phagocytosed bacteria-induced apoptotic neutrophils exhibited markedly increased production of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α, but not the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β. Moreover, ingestion of bacteria, but not UV-induced apoptotic neutrophils, caused increased expression of FcγRI on Mφ, and this effect was not provoked directly by bacteria associated with the apoptotic neutrophils. Instead, we found that a link between pathogen-induced apoptotic neutrophils and up-regulation of the heat shock proteins HSP60 and HSP70, and we also observed that recombinant HSP60 and HSP70 potentiated LPS-stimulated production of TNF-α in Mφ. The opposing macrophage responses to neutrophils undergoing apoptosis induced in different ways may represent a novel mechanism that regulates the extent of the immune response to invading microbes in two steps: first by aiding the functions of Mφ at an early stage of infection, and subsequently by deactivating those cells through removal of uninfected apoptotic neutrophils. HSP induction in neutrophils may provide the danger signals required to generate a more effective macrophage response.

Human Macrophages Infected with a High Burden of ESAT-6-Expressing M. tuberculosis Undergo Caspase-1-and Cathepsin B-Independent Necrosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infects lung macrophages, which instead of killing the pathogen can be manipulated by the bacilli, creating an environment suitable for intracellular replication and spread to adjacent cells. The role of host cell death during Mtb infection is debated because the bacilli have been shown to be both anti-apoptotic, keeping the host cell alive to avoid the antimicrobial effects of apoptosis, and pro-necrotic, killing the host macrophage to allow infection of neighboring cells. Since mycobacteria activate the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages, we investigated whether Mtb could induce one of the recently described inflammasome-linked cell death modes pyroptosis and pyronecrosis. These are mediated through caspase-1 and cathepsin-B, respectively. Human monocyte-derived macrophages were infected with virulent (H37Rv) Mtb at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1 or 10. The higher MOI resulted in strongly enhanced release of IL-1β, while a low MOI gave no IL-1β response. The infected macrophages were collected and cell viability in terms of the integrity of DNA, mitochondria and the plasma membrane was determined. We found that infection with H37Rv at MOI 10, but not MOI 1, over two days led to extensive DNA fragmentation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, loss of plasma membrane integrity, and HMGB1 release. Although we observed plasma membrane permeabilization and IL-1β release from infected cells, the cell death induced by Mtb was not dependent on caspase-1 or cathepsin B. It was, however, dependent on mycobacterial expression of ESAT-6. We conclude that as virulent Mtb reaches a threshold number of bacilli inside the human macrophage, ESAT-6-dependent necrosis occurs, activating caspase-1 in the process.

Incorporation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Lipoarabinomannan into Macrophage Membrane Rafts Is a Prerequisite for the Phagosomal Maturation Block

ABSTRACT Lipoarabinomannan (LAM) is one of the key virulence factors for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiological agent of tuberculosis. During uptake of mycobacteria, LAM interacts with the cell membrane of the host macrophage and can be detected throughout the cell upon infection. LAM can inhibit phagosomal maturation as well as induce a proinflammatory response in bystander cells. The aim of this study was to investigate how LAM exerts its action on human macrophages. We show that LAM is incorporated into membrane rafts of the macrophage cell membrane via its glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor and that incorporation of mannose-capped LAM from M. tuberculosis results in reduced phagosomal maturation. This is dependent on successful insertion of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. LAM does not, however, induce the phagosomal maturation block through activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, contradicting some previous suggestions.

Selective Inhibition of IgG-Mediated Phagocytosis in Gelsolin-Deficient Murine Neutrophils

Phagocytosis and the microbicidal functions of neutrophils require dynamic changes of the actin cytoskeleton. We have investigated the role of gelsolin, a calcium-dependent actin severing and capping protein, in peripheral blood neutrophils from gelsolin-null (Gsn−) mice. The phagocytosis of complement opsonized yeast was only minimally affected. In contrast, phagocytosis of IgG-opsonized yeast was reduced close to background level in Gsn− neutrophils. Thus, gelsolin is essential for efficient IgG- but not complement-mediated phagocytosis. Furthermore, attachment of IgG-opsonized yeast to Gsn− neutrophils was reduced (∼50%) but not to the same extent as ingestion (∼73%). This was not due to reduced surface expression of the Fcγ-receptor or its lateral mobility. This suggests that attachment and ingestion of IgG-opsonized yeast by murine neutrophils are actin-dependent and gelsolin is important for both steps in phagocytosis. We also investigated granule exocytosis and several steps in phagosome processing, namely the formation of actin around the phagosome, translocation of granules, and activation of the NADPH-oxidase. All these functions were normal in Gsn− neutrophils. Thus, the role of gelsolin is specific for IgG-mediated phagocytosis. Our data suggest that gelsolin is part of the molecular machinery that distinguishes complement and IgG-mediated phagocytosis. The latter requires a more dynamic reorganization of the cytoskeleton.

Actin assembly and regulation of neutrophil function: effects of cytochalasin B and tetracaine on chemotactic peptide-induced O2- production and degranulation.

Several studies indicate that the actin filament system is not only involved in cell motility, but also in the regulation of other neutrophil functions. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the mechanisms by which actin filament formation participates in the control of the respiratory burst and degranulation in human neutrophils. The approach taken was to use both an inhibitor (cytochalasin B) and a potentiator (tetracaine) of formylmethionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMet‐Leu‐Phe)‐induced actin polymerization. The total inhibition of fMet‐Leu‐Phe‐induced actin polymerization in cytochalasin B‐treated cells was accompanied by an impressive potentiation of both oxidase activity and degranulation (azurophilic and specific granules). However, preincubation with tetracaine, which causes an enhanced accumulation of F‐actin in the periphery of fMet‐Leu‐Phe‐stimulated cells, also augmented the rate and duration of peptide‐induced superoxide anion production, but inhibited degranulation (specific granules). A likely explanation for the potentiating effects of cytochalasin B and tetracaine is provided by our observation that both of these substances reduced the acid‐resistant binding of fMet‐Leu‐Phe (interpreted as a decrease in the internalization of fMet‐Leu‐Phe‐receptor‐complexes), resulting in an enhanced formation of second messengers (diacylglycerol). The findings that tetracaine potentiated the activity of the oxidase, whereas it inhibited degranulation (specific granules), suggest that actin polymerization per se plays a role in the latter process. Consequently, this study argues against the idea of a direct inhibitory effect of F‐actin on chemotactic factor‐induced oxidase activation, but supports an active role of actin filaments in the translocation and release of granule components.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis-induced apoptotic neutrophils trigger a pro-inflammatory response in macrophages through release of heat shock protein 72, acting in synergy with the bacteria

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) survive inside macrophages by manipulating microbicidal functions such as phago-lysosome fusion, production of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, and by rendering macrophages non-responsive to IFN-gamma. Mtb-infected lung tissue does however not only contain macrophages, but also significant numbers of infiltrating polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). These are able to phagocytose and kill ingested Mtb, but are short-lived cells that constantly need to be removed from tissues to avoid tissue damage. Phagocytosis of aged or UV-induced apoptotic PMN by macrophages induce an anti-inflammatory response in macrophages. However, in the present study, we show that engulfment of Mtb-induced apoptotic PMN by macrophages initiates secretion of TNF-alpha from the macrophages, reflecting a pro-inflammatory response. Moreover, Mtb-induced apoptotic PMN up-regulate heat shock proteins 60 and 72 (Hsp60, Hsp72) intracellularly and also release Hsp72 extracellularly. We found that both recombinant Hsp72 and released Hsp72 enhanced the pro-inflammatory response to both Mtb-induced apoptotic PMN and Mtb. This stimulatory effect of the supernatant was abrogated by depleting the Hsp72 with immunoprecipitation. These findings indicate that released Hsp72 from Mtb-infected PMN can trigger macrophage activation during the early stage of Mtb infections, thereby creating a link between innate and adaptive immunity.

Activation of Human Neutrophils by Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra Involves Phospholipase Cγ2, Shc Adapter Protein, and p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase

Recent studies have shown that human neutrophils play a significant protective role in mycobacteria infection. When encountered with mycobacteria, neutrophils exhibit the typical early bactericidal responses including phagocytosis and generation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI), but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. The present study shows that stimulation of neutrophils with an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra (Mtb) led to a tyrosine kinase-dependent ROI production in these cells. Stimulation with Mtb induces a rapid and transient tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins, one of which was identified as phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2). Several tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins were associated with the PLCγ2 precipitates from Mtb-stimulated neutrophils, of which pp46 was characterized as the Shc adapter protein. A role for PLCγ2-Shc association in the generation of ROI is supported by the observations that stimulation with Mtb causes the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), a downstream target of the Shc/Ras signaling cascade, and that the effect of genistein on ROI production coincided with its ability to inhibit both PLCγ2-Shc association and p38 MAPK activation. Moreover, pretreatment of neutrophils with a PLC inhibitor markedly suppresses the Mtb-stimulated ROI production as well as p38 MAPK activation in these cells. Taken together, these results indicate that stimulation of neutrophils with Mtb triggers the tyrosine phosphorylation of PLCγ2 and its association with Shc, and that such association is critical for the Mtb-stimulated ROI production through activating p38 MAPK.