Molecular cloning and characterisation of the CD18 partner in ovine (Ovis aries) β2-integrins

RTX Toxins of Animal Pathogens and Their Role as Antigens in Vaccines and Diagnostics

Exotoxins play a central role in the pathologies caused by most major bacterial animal pathogens. The large variety of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts in the animal kingdom is reflected by a large variety of bacterial pathogens and toxins. The group of repeats in the structural toxin (RTX) toxins is particularly abundant among bacterial pathogens of animals. Many of these toxins are described as hemolysins due to their capacity to lyse erythrocytes in vitro. Hemolysis by RTX toxins is due to the formation of cation-selective pores in the cell membrane and serves as an important marker for virulence in bacterial diagnostics. However, their physiologic relevant targets are leukocytes expressing β2 integrins, which act as specific receptors for RTX toxins. For various RTX toxins, the binding to the CD18 moiety of β₂ integrins has been shown to be host specific, reflecting the molecular basis of the host range of RTX toxins expressed by bacterial pathogens. Due to the key role of RTX toxins in the pathogenesis of many bacteria, antibodies directed against specific RTX toxins protect against disease, hence, making RTX toxins valuable targets in vaccine research and development. Due to their specificity, several structural genes encoding for RTX toxins have proven to be essential in modern diagnostic applications in veterinary medicine.

The role of RTX toxins in host specificity of animal pathogenic Pasteurellaceae

RTX toxins are bacterial pore-forming toxins that are particularly abundant among pathogenic species of Pasteurellaceae, in which they play a major role in virulence. RTX toxins of several primary pathogens of the family of Pasteurellaceae are directly involved in causing necrotic lesions in the target organs. Many RTX toxins are known as haemolysins because they lyse erythrocytes in vitro, an effect that is non-specific, but which serves as a useful marker in bacteriological identification and as an easily measurable signal in vitro in experimental studies. More recent studies have shown that the specific targets of most RTX toxins are leukocytes, with RTX toxins binding to the corresponding β-subunit (CD18) of β2 integrins and then exerting cytotoxic activity. After uptake by the target cell, at sub-lytic concentrations, some RTX toxins are transported to mitochondria and induce apoptosis. For several RTX toxins the binding to CD18 has been shown to be host specific and this seems to be the basis for the host range specificity of these RTX toxins. Observations on two very closely related species of the Pasteurellaceae family, Actinobacillus suis, a porcine pathogen particularly affecting suckling pigs, and Actinobacillus equuli subsp. haemolytica, which causes pyosepticaemia in new-born foals (sleepy foal disease), have revealed that they express different RTX toxins, named ApxI/II and Aqx, respectively. These RTX toxins are specifically cytotoxic for porcine and equine leukocytes, respectively. Furthermore, the ApxI and Aqx toxins of these species, when expressed in an isogenetic background in Escherichia coli, are specifically cytotoxic for leukocytes of their respective hosts. These data indicate the determinative role of RTX toxins in host specificity of pathogenic species of Pasteurellaceae.

Molecular cloning of CD18 of bison, deer and elk, and comparison with that of other ruminants and non-ruminants

Pneumonia caused by Mannheimia haemolytica is an important disease of cattle, domestic sheep, bighorn sheep and goats. Leukotoxin (Lkt) produced by M. haemolytica is cytolytic to all leukocyte subsets of these species. Lkt utilizes CD18, the beta subunit of beta(2)-integrins, as its functional receptor on leukocytes of these species. Cytotoxicity assays revealed that leukocytes from bison, deer, and elk are also susceptible to Lkt-induced cytolysis. The availability of cDNA encoding CD18 of bison, deer and elk would facilitate the comparison of a greater number of ruminant CD18 cDNA with that of non-ruminants as a means of the elucidation of the molecular basis for the specificity of M. haemolytica Lkt for ruminant leukocytes. Herein, we report the cloning and characterization of bison, deer, and elk CD18. The full-length cDNA of bison and deer consists of 2310bp with an ORF encoding 769 amino acids while elk CD18 consists of 2313bp with an ORF encoding 770 amino acids. This gene is highly conserved among ruminants compared with non-ruminants. Phylogenetic analysis based on amino acid sequences showed that CD18 of bison is most closely related to that of cattle while CD18 of deer and elk are more closely related to each other.

Characterization of the caprine (Capra hircus) beta-2 integrin CD18-encoding cDNA and identification of mutations potentially responsible for the ruminant-specific virulence ofMannheimia haemolytica

The leukocyte integrins play a critical role in a great number of cellular adhesive interactions during the immune response. We describe here the isolation and characterization of the caprine beta(2) (CD18) sub-unit, common to the leukocyte beta(2)-integrin family. The deduced 770-amino-acid sequence reveals a transmembrane protein with 80, 81, 83, 96 and 99% identity with its canine, murine, human, bovine and ovine homologues respectively. Analysis of CD18 sequences emphasizes the functional importance of the beta(2) sub-unit I-like domain, and included metal ion-dependent adhesion site-like motif and confirms that of the cytoplasmic tail. Moreover, comparisons of ruminant versus non-ruminant CD18 sequences allowed the identification of 16 potential mutation sites that could be held responsible for the unique virulence of Mannheimia haemolytica for ruminants. Mannheimiosis is known to be the major respiratory disease among ruminants, whereas it is not pathogenic for other mammals, an observation that has been attributed to a specific interaction between M. haemolytica leukotoxin and ruminants' CD18. Therefore, the data provided here offer the possibility to explore new avenues in studies based on the caprine model and provide key information for future studies aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the ruminant-specific virulence of M. haemolytica.

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (CD11a/CD18) receptor: cDNA sequencing, structure analysis and comparison with homologues

Background

The most predominant beta2-integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1, CD11a/CD18, alphaLbeta2), expressed on all leukocytes, is essential for many adhesive functions of the immune system. Interestingly, RTX toxin-producing bacteria specifically target this leukocyte beta2-integrin which exacerbates lesions and disease development.

Results

This study reports the sequencing of the wild boar beta2-integrin CD11a and CD18 cDNAs. Predicted CD11a and CD18 subunits share all the main structural characteristics of their mammalian homologues, with a larger interspecies conservation for the CD18 than the CD11a. Besides these strong overall similarities, wild boar and domestic pig LFA-1 differ by 2 (CD18) and 1 or 3 (CD11a) substitutions, of which one is located in the crucial I-domain (CD11a, E168D).

Conclusion

As most wild boars are seropositive to the RTX toxin-producing bacterium Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and because they have sustained continuous natural selection, future studies addressing the functional impact of these polymorphisms could bring interesting new information on the physiopathology of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae-associated pneumonia in domestic pigs.

Integrin-EGF-3 domain of bovine CD18 is critical for Mannheimia haemolytica leukotoxin species-specific susceptibility

Mannheimia haemolytica leukotoxin (LktA) is the primary virulence factor contributing to the pathogenesis of lung injury in bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis. Results from the authors' previous studies demonstrated that the site required for LktA binding leading to susceptibility to its biological effects resides within amino acid residues 500-600 of the extracellular region of bovine CD18. Experiments were designed to identify a much smaller functional domain within this 100 amino acid region of bovine CD18 that is critically required for species-specific susceptibility to LktA effects. Chimeric bovine X human CD18 with different integrin epidermal growth factor(I-EGF) like domains switched between bovine and human CD18 were generated and coexpressed with bovine CD11a in the human K562 cell line. The resulting chimeric transductants were tested for susceptibility to LktA-induced effects. The results demonstrate unequivocally that the I-EGF-3 domain of bovine CD18 (amino acid residues 541-581) is critical for conferring species-specific susceptibility to M. haemolytica leukotoxin.

Mannheimia haemolytica leukotoxin-induced cytolysis of ovine (Ovis aries) leukocytes is mediated by CD18, the β subunit of β2-integrins

Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica causes severe pneumonia in cattle, sheep and goats. Leukotoxin (Lkt) is the most important virulence determinant produced by this organism. Previously, we identified CD18, the beta subunit of beta(2)-integrins, as the receptor for Lkt on bovine leukocytes. Since Lkt is specific for leukocytes of cattle, sheep and goats, we hypothesized that Lkt utilizes CD18 as its receptor on ovine leukocytes as well. Therefore, the objective of this study was to transfect an Lkt-resistant murine cell line (P815) with cDNA encoding ovine CD18, and to determine the susceptibility of the transfectants to Lkt-induced cytolysis. cDNA for ovine CD18 cloned from polymorphonuclear leukocytes was transfected into P815 cells. Flow cytometric analysis of the transfectants revealed surface expression of ovine CD18, and Lkt binding. In a cytotoxicity assay, the transfectants were lysed by Lkt in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas the parent cells were not. Pre-incubation of Lkt with an anti-Lkt neutralizing antibody and pre-incubation of transfectants with an anti-CD18 antibody resulted in inhibition of cytolysis confirming the interaction between Lkt and CD18. Taken together, these results indicate that CD18 on ovine leukocytes serves as a receptor for Lkt, and that CD18 is sufficient to mediate Lkt-induced cytolysis of ovine leukocytes.

Cloning and comparison of bighorn sheep CD18 with that of domestic sheep, goats, cattle, humans and mice

Previously, we have shown that CD18, the beta-subunit of beta(2)-integrins, serves as a receptor for leukotoxin (Lkt) secreted by Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica on bovine leukocytes. Anti-CD18 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) inhibit Lkt-induced cytolysis of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) leukocytes suggesting that CD18 may serve as a receptor for Lkt on the leukocytes of this species as well. Confirmation of bighorn sheep CD18 as a receptor for Lkt, and elucidation of the enhanced Lkt-susceptibility of bighorn sheep polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), necessitates the cloning and sequencing of cDNA encoding bighorn sheep CD18. Hence, in this study we cloned and sequenced the cDNA encoding CD18 of bighorn sheep, and compared with that of other animal species. The cDNA of bighorn sheep CD18 has an open reading frame (ORF) of 2310bp. CD18 sequences obtained individually from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and PMNs were identical to each other. Comparison of the deduced 770-amino acid sequence of CD18 of bighorn sheep with that of domestic sheep, goats, cattle, humans and mice revealed 99, 98, 95, 82 and 80% identity, respectively. Availability of cloned bighorn sheep CD18 cDNA should allow the molecular characterization of M. haemolytica Lkt-receptor interactions in bighorn sheep and other ruminants that are susceptible to this disease.

Evidence in oyster of a plasma extracellular superoxide dismutase which binds LPS

We have characterized in the oyster Crassostrea gigas an extracellular superoxide dismutase (Cg-EcSOD) which appears to bind lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The protein has been purified from the oyster plasma and identified as a Cu/ZnSOD according to its N-terminal sequencing and biological activity. Cg-EcSOD expression and synthesis are restricted to hemocytes as revealed by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. Cg-EcSOD-expressing hemocytes were seen in blood circulation, in connective tissues, and closely associated to endothelium blood vessels. Cg-EcSOD presents in its amino acid sequence a LPS-binding motif found in the endotoxin receptor CD14 and we show that the protein displays an affinity to Escherichia coli bacteria and with LPS and Lipid A. Additionally, an RGD motif known to be implicated in the association to membrane integrin receptor is present in the amino acid sequence. The purified Cg-EcSOD was shown to bind to oyster hemocytes and to be immunocolocalized with a beta-integrin-like receptor.