Toxoplasma gondii interferes with lipopolysaccharide-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase activation by mechanisms distinct from endotoxin tolerance

Protozoan encounters with Toll-like receptor signalling pathways: implications for host parasitism

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have emerged as a major receptor family involved in non-self recognition. They have a vital role in triggering innate immunity and orchestrate the acquired immune response during bacterial and viral infection. However, the role of TLRs during infection with protozoan pathogens is less clear. Nevertheless, our understanding of how these parasitic microorganisms engage the host TLR signalling system has now entered a phase of rapid expansion. This Review describes recent insights into how parasitic protozoans are sensed by TLR molecules, and how the TLR system itself can be targeted by these microbial pathogens for their own survival.

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii bradyzoites has a diminished impact on host transcript levels relative to tachyzoite infection

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular pathogen, has the potential to infect nearly every warm-blooded animal but rarely causes morbidity. The ability for the parasite to convert to the bradyzoite stage and live inside slow-growing cysts that can go unnoticed by the host immune system allows for parasite persistence for the life of the infected host. This intracellular survival likely necessitates host cell modulation, and tachyzoites are known to modify a number of signaling cascades within the host to promote parasite survival. Little is known, however, about how bradyzoites manipulate their host cell. Microarrays were used to profile the host transcriptional changes caused by bradyzoite infection and compared to those of tachyzoite-infected and uninfected hosts cells 2 days postinfection in vitro. Infection resulted in chemokine, cytokine, extracellular matrix, and growth factor transcript level changes. A small group of genes were specifically induced by tachyzoite infection, including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, BCL2-related protein A1, and interleukin-24. Bradyzoite infection yielded only about half the changes seen with tachyzoite infection, and those changes that did occur were almost all of lower magnitude than those induced by tachyzoites. These results suggest that bradyzoites lead a more stealthy existence within the infected host cell.

Toxoplasma gondii genotype determines MyD88-dependent signaling in infected macrophages

Infection of mouse macrophages with Toxoplasma gondii elicits MAPK activation and IL-12 production, but host cell signaling pathways have not been clearly delineated. Here, we compared macrophage signaling in response to high virulence type I (RH) vs low virulence type II (ME49) strain infection. Tachyzoites of both strains induced p38 MAPK-dependent macrophage IL-12 release, although ME49 elicited 2- to 3-fold more cytokine than RH. IL-12 production was largely restricted to infected cells in each case. RH-induced IL-12 release did not require MyD88, whereas ME49-triggered IL-12 production was substantially dependent on this TLR/IL-1R adaptor molecule. MyD88 was also not required for RH-stimulated p38 MAPK activation, which occurred in the absence of detectable upstream p38 MAPK kinase activity. In contrast, ME49-driven p38 MAPK activation displayed an MyD88-dependent component. This parasite strain also induced MyD88-dependent activation of MKK4, an upstream activator of p38 MAPK. The results suggest that RH triggers MAPK activation and IL-12 production using MyD88-independent signaling, whereas ME49 uses these pathways as well as MyD88-dependent signaling cascades. Differences in host signaling pathways triggered by RH vs ME49 may contribute to the high and low virulence characteristics displayed by these parasite strains.

Toxoplasma gondii inhibits toll-like receptor 4 ligand-induced mobilization of intracellular tumor necrosis factor alpha to the surface of mouse peritoneal neutrophils

Neutrophils are well-known to rapidly respond to infection through chemotactic infiltration at sites of inflammation, followed by rapid release of microbicidal molecules, chemokines, and proinflammatory cytokines. For tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), we recently found that neutrophils contain intracellular pools of the cytokine and display the capacity to upregulate transcriptional activity of the gene during lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. We now show that triggering of mouse peritoneal neutrophils with Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, and TLR9 ligands, but not ligands of TLR3, induces upregulation of surface membrane TNF-alpha. However, neutrophils infected with the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii displayed an inability to respond fully in terms of TLR ligand-induced increases in membrane TNF-alpha expression. Infected neutrophils failed to display decreased levels of intracellular TNF-alpha upon LPS exposure. In contrast to intermediate inhibitory effects in nontreated neutrophils, T. gondii induced a complete blockade in LPS-induced surface TNF-alpha expression in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. Despite these inhibitory effects, the parasite did not affect LPS-induced upregulation of TNF-alpha gene transcription. Collectively, the results show that Toxoplasma prevents TLR ligand-triggered mobilization of TNF-alpha to the neutrophil surface, revealing a novel immunosuppressive activity of the parasite.

Screening for Toxoplasma gondii-regulated transcriptional responses in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages

Toxoplasma gondii-infected macrophages are blocked in production of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) upon activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here, we used pathway-focused cDNA arrays to identify additional T. gondii-regulated transcriptional responses. Parasite infection decreased 57 (inclusive of IL-12 and TNF-alpha) and increased expression of 7 of 77 LPS-activated cytokine and cytokine-related genes. Interestingly, we found that the LPS-induced transcriptional response of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was synergistically increased by T. gondii, results that we validated by conventional reverse transcription-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Importantly, although the parasite exerted disparate effects in LPS-signaling leading to TNF-alpha versus IL-10 production, both responses required functional Toll-like receptor 4. We suggest that these effects represent parasite defense mechanisms to avoid or delay induction of antimicrobial activity and/or T-cell-mediated immunity during Toxoplasma infection.

Toxoplasma gondiitriggers Gi-dependent PI 3-kinase signaling required for inhibition of host cell apoptosis

Infection with the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii renders cells resistant to multiple pro-apoptotic signals, but underlying mechanisms have not been delineated. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) pathway and the immediate downstream effector protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) play important roles in cell survival and apoptosis inhibition. Here, we show that Toxoplasma infection of mouse macrophages activates PKB/Akt in vivo and in vitro. In a mixed population of infected and non-infected macrophages, activation is only observed in parasite-infected cells. The PI 3-kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 block parasite-induced PKB phosphorylation. PKB activation occurs independently of Toll-like receptor adaptor protein MyD88 but uncoupling of Gi-protein-mediated signaling with pertussis toxin prevents PKB phosphorylation. Moreover, in the presence of PI 3-kinase inhibitors or pertussis toxin, not only PKB activation but also ERK1/2 activation during T. gondii infection is defective. Most importantly, the parasite's ability to induce macrophage resistance to pro-apoptotic signaling is prevented by incubation with PI 3-kinase inhibitors. This study demonstrates that T. gondii exploits host Gi-protein-dependent PI 3-kinase signaling to prevent induction of apoptosis in infected macrophages.

The host cell transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1 is required for Toxoplasma gondii growth and survival at physiological oxygen levels

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan pathogen. We previously found that genes mediating cellular responses to hypoxia were upregulated in Toxoplasma -infected cells but not in cells infected with another intracellular pathogen, Trypanosoma cruzi. The inducible expression of these genes is controlled by the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1) transcription factor, which is the master regulator of cells exposed to low oxygen. Because this response may be important for parasites to grow at physiological oxygen levels, we tested the hypothesis that HIF1 is important for Toxoplasma growth. Here, we demonstrate that Toxoplasma infection rapidly increased the abundance of the HIF1alpha subunit and activated HIF1 reporter gene expression. In addition, we found that Toxoplasma growth and survival was severely reduced in HIF1alpha knockout cells at 3% oxygen. While HIF1alpha was not required for parasite invasion, we determined that HIF1 was required for parasite cell division and organelle maintenance at 3% oxygen. These data indicate that Toxoplasma activates HIF1 and requires HIF1 for growth and survival at physiologically relevant oxygen levels.

Induction of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 by Toxoplasma gondii contributes to immune evasion in macrophages by blocking IFN-gamma signaling

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that survives and multiplies in professional phagocytes such as macrophages. Therefore, T. gondii has to cope with the panel of antimicrobial host immune mechanisms, among which IFN-gamma plays a crucial role. We report in this study that in vitro infection of murine macrophages with viable, but not with inactivated, parasites results in inhibition of IFN-gamma signaling within the infected cells. Thus, infection of RAW264.7 macrophages with tachyzoites inhibited IFN-gamma-induced STAT-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, mRNA expression of target genes, and secretion of NO. These effects were dependent on direct contact of the host cells with living parasites and were not due to secreted intermediates. In parallel, we report the induction of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1), which is a known feedback inhibitor of IFN-gamma receptor signaling. SOCS-1 was induced directly by viable parasites. SOCS overexpression in macrophages did not affect tachyzoite proliferation per se, yet abolished the inhibitory effects of IFN-gamma on parasite replication. The inhibitory effects of T. gondii on IFN-gamma were diminished in macrophages from SOCS-1-/- mice. The results suggest that induction of SOCS proteins within phagocytes due to infection with T. gondii contributes to the parasite's immune evasion strategies.

Cell surface heparan sulfate promotes replication of Toxoplasma gondii

Previous work suggests that cell surface heparan sulfate acts as a receptor for the Apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Using Chinese hamster ovary cell mutants defective in heparan sulfate biosynthesis, we show that heparan sulfate is necessary and sufficient for infectivity. Further, we demonstrate that the parasite requires N sulfation of heparan sulfate initiated by N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-1, but 2-O sulfation and 6-O sulfation appear to be dispensable. In order to study the role of heparan sulfate in other cell types, we created a conditional allele for N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-1 by using Cre-loxP technology. Mammary tumor cells lacking N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-1 exhibited reduced toxoplasma infectivity like Chinese hamster ovary cell mutants. Surprisingly, heparin, chemically modified heparinoids, and monoclonal antibodies to heparan sulfate had no effect on toxoplasma infection. T. gondii attachment and invasion were unchanged in N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-1-inactivated cells as well, but replication was reduced. Thus, heparan sulfate does not appear to function as a receptor for T. gondii but instead facilitates parasite replication postinvasion.

p38 MAPK autophosphorylation drives macrophage IL-12 production during intracellular infection

The intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii triggers rapid MAPK activation in mouse macrophages (Mphi). We used synthetic inhibitors and dominant-negative Mphi mutants to demonstrate that T. gondii triggers IL-12 production in dependence upon p38 MAPK. Chemical inhibition of stress-activated protein kinase/JNK showed that this MAPK was also required for parasite-triggered IL-12 production. Examination of upstream MAPK kinases (MKK) 3, 4, and 6 that function as p38 MAPK activating kinases revealed that parasite infection activates only MKK3. Nevertheless, in MKK3(-/-) Mphi, p38 MAPK activation was near normal and IL-12 production was unaffected. Recently, MKK-independent p38alpha MAPK activation via autophosphorylation was described. Autophosphorylation depends upon p38alpha MAPK association with adaptor protein, TGF-beta-activated protein kinase 1-binding protein-1. We observed TGF-beta-activated protein kinase 1-binding protein-1-p38alpha MAPK association that closely paralleled p38 MAPK phosphorylation during Toxoplasma infection of Mphi. Furthermore, a synthetic p38 catalytic-site inhibitor blocked tachyzoite-induced p38alpha MAPK phosphorylation. These data are the first to demonstrate p38 MAPK autophosphorylation triggered by intracellular infection.

Francisella tularensis LVS initially activates but subsequently down-regulates intracellular signaling and cytokine secretion in mouse monocytic and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Monocytic cells constitute an important defense mechanism against invading pathogens by recognizing conserved pathogens components. The recognition leads to activation of intracellular pathways involving nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), such as the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. We show that in vitro infection with Francisella tularensis results in activation of NF-kappaB, phosphorylation of p38 and c-Jun, and secretion of TNF-alpha in adherent mouse peritoneal cells, in the mouse macrophage-like cell line J774A.1, in the human macrophage cell line THP-1, and in human peripheral blood monocytic cells. This occurred after infection with the human live vaccine strain, F. tularensis LVS or a mutant strain denoted deltaiglC, which lacks expression of a 23-kDa protein, or after addition of killed F. tularensis LVS. Addition of purified F. tularensis LPS resulted in no discernible effects on the cells. When the effects were followed up to 5 h, activation persisted in cultures with killed bacteria or infected with the deltaiglC strain. In contrast, the signal transduction activation and secretion of TNF-alpha were down-regulated within the 5h period in mouse peritoneal cells, J774 cells or human peripheral blood mononuclear cells infected with F. tularensis LVS. Together, the results suggest that infection with live F. tularensis LVS bacteria leads to a rapid induction of a proinflammatory response in mouse and human cells but after internalization of bacteria, this response is completely or partly down-regulated in most cell types. This down-regulation does not occur when cells are infected with the mutant deltaiglC.

IL-10-independent STAT3 activation by Toxoplasma gondii mediates suppression of IL-12 and TNF-alpha in host macrophages

Infection of mouse macrophages by Toxoplasma gondii renders the cells resistant to proinflammatory effects of LPS triggering. In this study, we show that cell invasion is accompanied by rapid and sustained activation of host STAT3. Activation of STAT3 did not occur with soluble T. gondii extracts or heat-killed tachyzoites, demonstrating a requirement for live parasites. Parasite-induced STAT3 phosphorylation and suppression of LPS-triggered TNF-alpha and IL-12 was intact in IL-10-deficient macrophages, ruling out a role for this anti-inflammatory cytokine in the suppressive effects of T. gondii. Most importantly, Toxoplasma could not effectively suppress LPS-triggered TNF-alpha and IL-12 synthesis in STAT3-deficient macrophages. These results demonstrate that T. gondii exploits host STAT3 to prevent LPS-triggered IL-12 and TNF-alpha production, revealing for the first time a molecular mechanism underlying the parasite's suppressive effect on macrophage proinflammatory cytokine production.

Manipulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor-kappaB-signaling cascades during intracellular Toxoplasma gondii infection

The intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii exerts profound effects on nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)- and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-signaling cascades in macrophages. During early infection, nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB is blocked, and later, the cells display defects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced MAPK phosphorylation after undergoing initial activation in response to Toxoplasma itself. Infected macrophages that are subjected to triggering through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) with LPS display defective production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-12 (IL-12) that likely reflects interference with NF-kappaB- and MAPK-signaling cascades. Nevertheless, T. gondii possesses molecules that themselves induce eventual proinflammatory cytokine synthesis. For interleukin-12, this occurs through both myeloid differentiation factor 88-dependent and chemokine receptor CCR5-dependent pathways. The balance between activation and interference with proinflammatory signaling is likely to reflect the need to achieve an appropriate level of immunity that allows the host and parasite to maintain a stable interaction.

TRAF6-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase activation differentially regulates the production of interleukin-12 by macrophages in response to Toxoplasma gondii

The production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) is critical to the development of innate and adaptive immune responses required for the control of intracellular pathogens. Many microbial products signal through Toll-like receptors (TLR) and activate NF-kappaB family members that are required for the production of IL-12. Recent studies suggest that components of the TLR pathway are required for the production of IL-12 in response to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii; however, the production of IL-12 in response to this parasite is independent of NF-kappaB activation. The adaptor molecule TRAF6 is involved in TLR signaling pathways and associates with serine/threonine kinases involved in the activation of both NF-kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). To elucidate the intracellular signaling pathways involved in the production of IL-12 in response to soluble toxoplasma antigen (STAg), wild-type and TRAF6(-/-) mice were inoculated with STAg, and the production of IL-12(p40) was determined. TRAF6(-/-) mice failed to produce IL-12(p40) in response to STAg, and TRAF6(-/-) macrophages stimulated with STAg also failed to produce IL-12(p40). Studies using Western blot analysis of wild-type and TRAF6(-/-) macrophages revealed that stimulation with STAg resulted in the rapid TRAF6-dependent phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-related kinase, which differentially regulated the production of IL-12(p40). The studies presented here demonstrate for the first time that the production of IL-12(p40) in response to toxoplasma is dependent upon TRAF6 and p38 MAPK.