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Scasny A, Alibayov B, Khan F, Rao SJ, Murin L, Jop Vidal AG, Smith P, Li W, Edwards K, Warncke K, Vidal JE. Oxidation of hemoproteins by Streptococcus pneumoniae collapses the cell cytoskeleton and disrupts mitochondrial respiration leading to the cytotoxicity of human lung cells. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0291223. [PMID: 38084982 PMCID: PMC10783075 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02912-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) colonizes the lungs, killing millions every year. During its metabolism, Spn produces abundant amounts of hydrogen peroxide. When produced in the lung parenchyma, Spn-hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) causes the death of lung cells, and details of the mechanism are studied here. We found that Spn-H2O2 targets intracellular proteins, resulting in the contraction of the cell cytoskeleton and disruption of mitochondrial function, ultimately contributing to cell death. Intracellular proteins targeted by Spn-H2O2 included cytochrome c and, surprisingly, a protein of the cell cytoskeleton, beta-tubulin. To study the details of oxidative reactions, we used, as a surrogate model, the oxidation of another hemoprotein, hemoglobin. Using the surrogate model, we specifically identified a highly reactive radical whose creation was catalyzed by Spn-H2O2. In sum, we demonstrated that the oxidation of intracellular targets by Spn-H2O2 plays an important role in the cytotoxicity caused by Spn, thus providing new targets for interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Scasny
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Center for Immunology and Microbial Research, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Babek Alibayov
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Center for Immunology and Microbial Research, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Faidad Khan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Center for Immunology and Microbial Research, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Shambavi J. Rao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State School of Medicine, The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Landon Murin
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Center for Immunology and Microbial Research, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Ana G. Jop Vidal
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Center for Immunology and Microbial Research, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Perriann Smith
- Mississippi INBRE Research Scholar, University of Southern Mississippi, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Physics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kristin Edwards
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Kurt Warncke
- Department of Physics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jorge E. Vidal
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Center for Immunology and Microbial Research, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
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Womack E, Alibayov B, Vidal JE, Eichenbaum Z. Endogenously produced H 2O 2 is intimately involved in iron metabolism in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0329723. [PMID: 38038454 PMCID: PMC10783112 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03297-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Heme degradation provides pathogens with growth essential iron, leveraging on the host heme reservoir. Bacteria typically import and degrade heme enzymatically, and here, we demonstrated a significant deviation from this dogma. We found that Streptococcus pneumoniae liberates iron from met-hemoglobin extracellularly, in a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)- and cell-dependent manner; this activity serves as a major iron acquisition mechanism for S. pneumoniae. Inhabiting oxygen-rich environments is a major part of pneumococcal biology, and hence, H2O2-mediated heme degradation likely supplies iron during infection. Moreover, H2O2 reaction with ferrous hemoglobin but not with met-hemoglobin is known to result in heme breakdown. Therefore, the ability of pneumococci to degrade heme from met-hemoglobin is a new paradigm. Lastly, this study will inform other research as it demonstrates that extracellular degradation must be considered in the interpretations of experiments in which H2O2-producing bacteria are given heme or hemoproteins as an iron source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edroyal Womack
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Babek Alibayov
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Jorge E. Vidal
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Zehava Eichenbaum
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Pal C. Redox modulating small molecules having antimalarial efficacy. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 218:115927. [PMID: 37992998 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
The search for effective antimalarial agents remains a critical priority because malaria is widely spread and drug-resistant strains are becoming more prevalent. In this review, a variety of small molecules capable of modulating redox processes were showcased for their potential as antimalarial agents. The compounds were designed to target the redox balance of Plasmodium parasites, which has a pivotal function in their ability to survive and multiply within the host organism. A thorough screening method was utilized to assess the effectiveness of these compounds against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, the malaria-causing parasite. The results revealed that several of the tested compounds exhibited significant effectiveness against malaria, displaying IC50 values at a low micromolar range. Furthermore, these compounds displayed promising selectivity for the parasite, as they exhibited low cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells. Thorough mechanistic studies were undertaken to clarify how the active compounds exert their mode of action. The findings revealed that these compounds disrupted the parasites' redox balance, causing oxidative stress and interfering with essential cellular functions. Additionally, the compounds showed synergistic effects when combined with existing antimalarial drugs, suggesting their potential for combination therapies to combat drug resistance. Overall, this study highlights the potential of redox-modulating small molecules as effective antimalarial agents. The identified compounds demonstrate promising antimalarial activity, and their mechanism of action offers insights into targeting the redox balance of Plasmodium parasites. Further optimization and preclinical studies are warranted to determine their efficacy, safety, and potential for clinical development as novel antimalarial therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinmay Pal
- Department of Chemistry, Gobardanga Hindu College, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal 743273, India.
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Alibayov B, Scasny A, Vidal AGJ, Murin L, Wong S, Edwards KS, Eichembaun Z, Punshon T, Jackson BP, Hopp MT, McDaniel LS, Akerley BJ, Imhof D, Vidal JE. Oxidation of hemoglobin in the lung parenchyma facilitates the differentiation of pneumococci into encapsulated bacteria. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.14.567109. [PMID: 38014009 PMCID: PMC10680745 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.14.567109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Pneumococcal pneumonia causes cytotoxicity in the lung parenchyma but the underlying mechanism involves multiple factors contributing to cell death. Here, we discovered that hydrogen peroxide produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn-H 2 O 2 ) plays a pivotal role by oxidizing hemoglobin, leading to its polymerization and subsequent release of labile heme. At physiologically relevant levels, heme selected a population of encapsulated pneumococci. In the absence of capsule and Spn-H 2 O 2 , host intracellular heme exhibited toxicity towards pneumococci, thus acting as an antibacterial mechanism. Further investigation revealed that heme-mediated toxicity required the ABC transporter GlnPQ. In vivo experiments demonstrated that pneumococci release H 2 O 2 to cause cytotoxicity in bronchi and alveoli through the non-proteolytic degradation of intracellular proteins such as actin, tubulin and GAPDH. Overall, our findings uncover a mechanism of lung toxicity mediated by oxidative stress that favor the growth of encapsulated pneumococci suggesting a therapeutic potential by targeting oxidative reactions. Graphical abstract Highlights Oxidation of hemoglobin by Streptococcus pneumoniae facilitates differentiation to encapsulated pneumococci in vivo Differentiated S. pneumoniae produces capsule and hydrogen peroxide (Spn-H 2 O 2 ) as defense mechanism against host heme-mediated toxicity. Spn-H 2 O 2 -induced lung toxicity causes the oxidation and non-proteolytic degradation of intracellular proteins tubulin, actin, and GAPDH. The ABC transporter GlnPQ is a heme-binding complex that makes Spn susceptible to heme toxicity.
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Scasny A, Alibayov B, Khan F, Rao SJ, Murin L, Jop Vidal AG, Smith P, Wei L, Edwards K, Warncke K, Vidal JE. Oxidation of hemoproteins by Streptococcus pneumoniae collapses the cell cytoskeleton and disrupts mitochondrial respiration leading to cytotoxicity of human lung cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.07.544089. [PMID: 37333138 PMCID: PMC10274756 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.07.544089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) causes pneumonia that kills millions through acute toxicity and invasion of the lung parenchyma. During aerobic respiration, Spn releases hydrogen peroxide (Spn-H 2 O 2 ), as a by-product of enzymes SpxB and LctO, and causes cell death with signs of both apoptosis and pyroptosis by oxidizing unknown cell targets. Hemoproteins are molecules essential for life and prone to oxidation by H 2 O 2 . We recently demonstrated that during infection-mimicking conditions, Spn-H 2 O 2 oxidizes the hemoprotein hemoglobin (Hb), releasing toxic heme. In this study, we investigated details of the molecular mechanism(s) by which the oxidation of hemoproteins by Spn-H 2 O 2 causes human lung cell death. Spn strains, but not H 2 O 2 -deficient SpnΔ spxB Δ lctO strains caused time-dependent cell cytotoxicity characterized by the rearrangement of the actin, the loss of the microtubule cytoskeleton and nuclear contraction. Disruption of the cell cytoskeleton correlated with the presence of invasive pneumococci and an increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species. In cell culture, the oxidation of Hb or cytochrome c (Cyt c ) caused DNA degradation and mitochondrial dysfunction from inhibition of complex I-driven respiration, which was cytotoxic to human alveolar cells. Oxidation of hemoproteins resulted in the creation of a radical, which was identified as a protein derived side chain tyrosyl radical by using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Thus, we demonstrate that Spn invades lung cells, releasing H 2 O 2 that oxidizes hemoproteins, including Cyt c , catalyzing the formation of a tyrosyl side chain radical on Hb and causing mitochondrial disruption, that ultimately leads to the collapse of the cell cytoskeleton.
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