Ehrlichia chaffeensis induces monocyte inflammatory responses through MyD88, ERK, and NF-κB but not through TRIF, interleukin-1 receptor 1 (IL-1R1)/IL-18R1, or toll-like receptors

Ehrlichia chaffeensis Co-Opts Phagocytic Hemocytes for Systemic Dissemination in the Lone Star Tick, Amblyomma americanum

INTRODUCTION

Hematophagous arthropods can acquire and transmit several pathogens of medical importance. In ticks, the innate immune system is crucial in the outcome between vector-pathogen interaction and overall vector competence. However, the specific immune response(s) elicited by the immune cells known as hemocytes remains largely undefined in Ehrlichia chaffeensis and its competent tick vector, Amblyomma americanum.

METHODS

We utilized injection of clodronate liposome to deplete tick granulocytes combined with infection with E. chaffeensis to demonstrate their essential role in microbial infection.

RESULTS

Here, we show that granulocytes, professional phagocytic cells, are integral in eliciting immune responses against commensal and pathogen infection. The chemical depletion of granulocytes led to decreased phagocytic efficiency of tissue-associated hemocytes. We demonstrate that E. chaffeensis can infect circulating hemocytes, and both cell-free plasma and hemocytes from E. chaffeensis-infected ticks can establish Ehrlichia infection in recipient ticks. Lastly, we provide evidence to show that granulocytes play a dual role in E. chaffeensis infection. Depleting granulocytic hemocytes increased Ehrlichia load in the salivary gland and midgut tissues. In contrast, granulocyte depletion led to a reduced systemic load of Ehrlichia.

CONCLUSION

This study has identified multiple roles for granulocytic hemocytes in the control and systemic dissemination of E. chaffeensis infection.

Identification and characterization of mkk genes and their expression profiles in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) symptomatically or asymptomatically infected with Vibrio anguillarum

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MKKs) are intermediate kinases of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways. MKKs are activated by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MKKK) and then the activated MKKs trigger the activation of downstream MAPKs. MAPK signaling pathways play an important role in regulating immune functions including apoptosis and inflammation. However, studies on identification and characterization of mkk repertoire in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are still limited. Trout experienced 4 rounds (4R) of whole genome duplication (WGD), thus exhibiting increased paralogs of mkks with potentially functional diversity. In this study, we identified 17 mkk genes in trout and the following bacterial challenge (Vibrio anguillarum) studies showed functional diversity of different mkk subtypes. Vibrio anguillarum infection resulted in significantly up-regulated mkk2 subtypes in spleen and liver, and mkk4b3 in spleen, suggesting immunomodulation was regulated by activation of ERK, p38 and JNK pathways. Compared to other mkk subtypes, mkk6s were down-regulated in symptomatic group, rather than asymptomatic group. The organisms present negative feedback on MAPK activation, thus reducing extra damage to cells. We observed down-regulated mkk6s with up-regulated genes (dusp1 & dusp2) involved in negative feedback of MAPK activation. Based on these results, we might propose the distinct expression patterns of genes associated with MAPK pathways resulted in different phenotypes and symptoms of trout in response to bacterial challenge.

Review: Protective Immunity and Immunopathology of Ehrlichiosis

Human monocytic ehrlichiosis, a tick transmitted infection, ranges in severity from apparently subclinical to a fatal toxic shock-like fatal disease. Models in immunocompetent mice range from an abortive infection to uniformly lethal depending on the infecting Ehrlichia species, dose of inoculum, and route of inoculation. Effective immunity is mediated by CD4+ T lymphocytes and gamma interferon. Lethal infection occurs with early overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines and overproduction of TNF alpha and IL-10 by CD8+ T lymphocytes. Furthermore, fatal ehrlichiosis is associated with signaling via TLR 9/MyD88 with upregulation of several inflammasome complexes and secretion of IL-1 beta, IL-1 alpha, and IL-18 by hepatic mononuclear cells, suggesting activation of canonical and noncanonical inflammasome pathways, a deleterious role for IL-18, and the protective role for caspase 1. Autophagy promotes ehrlichial infection, and MyD88 signaling hinders ehrlichial infection by inhibiting autophagy induction and flux. Activation of caspase 11 during infection of hepatocytes by the lethal ehrlichial species after interferon alpha receptor signaling results in the production of inflammasome-dependent IL-1 beta, extracellular secretion of HMGB1, and pyroptosis. The high level of HMGB1 in lethal ehrlichiosis suggests a role in toxic shock. Studies of primary bone marrow-derived macrophages infected by highly avirulent or mildly avirulent ehrlichiae reveal divergent M1 and M2 macrophage polarization that links with generation of pathogenic CD8 T cells, neutrophils, and excessive inflammation or with strong expansion of protective Th1 and NKT cells, resolution of inflammation and clearance of infection, respectively.

MyD88 in Macrophages Enhances Liver Fibrosis by Activation of NLRP3 Inflammasome in HSCs

Chronic liver disease mediated by the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) leads to liver fibrosis. The signal adaptor MyD88 of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling is involved during the progression of liver fibrosis. However, the specific role of MyD88 in myeloid cells in liver fibrosis has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we used a carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced mouse fibrosis model in which MyD88 was selectively depleted in myeloid cells. MyD88 deficiency in myeloid cells attenuated liver fibrosis in mice and decreased inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, deficiency of MyD88 in macrophages inhibits the secretion of CXC motif chemokine 2 (CXCL2), which restrains the activation of HSCs characterized by NLR Family Pyrin Domain Containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. Moreover, targeting CXCL2 by CXCR2 inhibitors attenuated the activation of HSCs and reduced liver fibrosis. Thus, MyD88 may represent a potential candidate target for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum Induces TLR- and MyD88-Dependent Signaling in In Vitro Generated Murine Neutrophils

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-transmitted obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium that replicates in neutrophils. It elicits febrile disease in humans and in animals. In a mouse model, elimination of A. phagocytophilum required CD4⁺ T cells, but was independent of IFN-γ and other classical antibacterial effector mechanisms. Further, mice deficient for immune recognition and signaling via Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4 or MyD88 were unimpaired in pathogen control. In contrast, animals lacking adaptor molecules of Nod-like receptors (NLR) such as RIP2 or ASC showed delayed clearance of A. phagocytophilum. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of further pattern recognition receptor (PRR) pathways to the control of A. phagocytophilum in vivo. Mice deficient for the NLR NOD2 had elevated bacterial loads in the early phase of infection, but were unimpaired in pathogen elimination. In contrast, animals lacking adaptor proteins of different C-type lectin receptors (CLR) such as DAP12, Fc-receptor γ-chain (FcRγ) and SYK controlled A. phagocytophilum as efficiently as wild-type mice. Further, we investigated which PRR pathways are involved in the sensing of A. phagocytophilum by in vitro generated Hoxb8 murine neutrophils. In vitro, recognition of A. phagocytophilum by murine neutrophils was dependent on TLR- and MyD88 signaling. However, it remained intact in the absence of the NLR NOD1, NOD2 and NALP3 and of the CLR adaptor molecules DAP12 and FcRγ. From these results, we conclude that TLR rather than NLR or CLR are critical for the detection of A. phagocytophilum by neutrophils although in vivo defective TLR-signaling is compensated probably because of the redundancy of the immune system.

Comparative Analysis of Genome of Ehrlichia sp. HF, a Model Bacterium to Study Fatal Human Ehrlichiosis

BACKGROUND

The genus Ehrlichia consists of tick-borne obligatory intracellular bacteria that can cause deadly diseases of medical and agricultural importance. Ehrlichia sp. HF, isolated from Ixodes ovatus ticks in Japan [also referred to as I. ovatus Ehrlichia (IOE) agent], causes acute fatal infection in laboratory mice that resembles acute fatal human monocytic ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis. As there is no small laboratory animal model to study fatal human ehrlichiosis, Ehrlichia sp. HF provides a needed disease model. However, the inability to culture Ehrlichia sp. HF and the lack of genomic information have been a barrier to advance this animal model. In addition, Ehrlichia sp. HF has several designations in the literature as it lacks a taxonomically recognized name.

RESULTS

We stably cultured Ehrlichia sp. HF in canine histiocytic leukemia DH82 cells from the HF strain-infected mice, and determined its complete genome sequence. Ehrlichia sp. HF has a single double-stranded circular chromosome of 1,148,904 bp, which encodes 866 proteins with a similar metabolic potential as E. chaffeensis. Ehrlichia sp. HF encodes homologs of all virulence factors identified in E. chaffeensis, including 23 paralogs of P28/OMP-1 family outer membrane proteins, type IV secretion system apparatus and effector proteins, two-component systems, ankyrin-repeat proteins, and tandem repeat proteins. Ehrlichia sp. HF is a novel species in the genus Ehrlichia, as demonstrated through whole genome comparisons with six representative Ehrlichia species, subspecies, and strains, using average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization, and core genome alignment sequence identity.

CONCLUSIONS

The genome of Ehrlichia sp. HF encodes all known virulence factors found in E. chaffeensis, substantiating it as a model Ehrlichia species to study fatal human ehrlichiosis. Comparisons between Ehrlichia sp. HF and E. chaffeensis will enable identification of in vivo virulence factors that are related to host specificity, disease severity, and host inflammatory responses. We propose to name Ehrlichia sp. HF as Ehrlichia japonica sp. nov. (type strain HF), to denote the geographic region where this bacterium was initially isolated.

Pattern Recognition Receptors in Innate Immunity to Obligate Intracellular Bacteria

Host pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are crucial for sensing pathogenic microorganisms, launching innate responses, and shaping pathogen-specific adaptive immunity during infection. Rickettsia spp., Orientia tsutsugamushi, Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Coxiella burnetii are obligate intracellular bacteria, which can only replicate within host cells and must evade immune detection to successfully propagate. These five bacterial species are zoonotic pathogens of clinical or agricultural importance, yet, uncovering how immune recognition occurs has remained challenging. Recent evidence from in-vitro studies and animal models has offered new insights into the types and kinetics of PRR activation during infection with Rickettsia spp., A. phagocytophilum, E. chaffeensis, and C. burnetii, respectively. However, much less is known in these regards for O. tsutsugamushi infection, until the recent discovery for the role of the C-type lectin receptor Mincle during lethal infection in mice and in primary macrophage cultures. This review gives a brief summary for clinical and epidemiologic features of these five bacterial infections, focuses on fundamental biologic facets of infection, and recent advances in host recognition. In addition, we discuss knowledge gaps for innate recognition of these bacteria in the context of disease pathogenesis.

PDX regulates inflammatory cell infiltration via resident macrophage in LPS-induced lung injury

Inflammatory cell infiltration contributes to the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Protectin DX (PDX), an endogenous lipid mediator, shows anti‐inflammatory and proresolution bioactions. In vivo, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with PDX (0.1 µg/mouse) after intratracheal (1 mg/kg) or intraperitoneal (10 mg/kg) LPS administration. Flow cytometry was used to measure inflammatory cell numbers. Clodronate liposomes were used to deplete resident macrophages. RT‐PCR, and ELISA was used to measure MIP‐2, MCP‐1, TNF‐α and MMP9 levels. In vitro, sorted neutrophils, resident and recruited macrophages (1 × 10⁶) were cultured with 1 μg/mL LPS and/or 100 nmol/L PDX to assess the chemokine receptor expression. PDX attenuated LPS‐induced lung injury via inhibiting recruited macrophage and neutrophil recruitment through repressing resident macrophage MCP‐1, MIP‐2 expression and release, respectively. Finally, PDX inhibition of neutrophil infiltration and transmembrane was associated with TNF‐α/MIP‐2/MMP9 signalling pathway. These data suggest that PDX attenuates LPS‐stimulated lung injury via reduction of the inflammatory cell recruitment mediated via resident macrophages.

Host membrane lipids are trafficked to membranes of intravacuolar bacterium Ehrlichia chaffeensis

Ehrlichia chaffeensis, a cholesterol-rich and cholesterol-dependent obligate intracellular bacterium, partially lacks genes for glycerophospholipid biosynthesis. We found here that E. chaffeensis is dependent on host glycerolipid biosynthesis, as an inhibitor of host long-chain acyl CoA synthetases, key enzymes for glycerolipid biosynthesis, significantly reduced bacterial proliferation. E. chaffeensis cannot synthesize phosphatidylcholine or cholesterol but encodes enzymes for phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) biosynthesis; however, exogenous NBD-phosphatidylcholine, Bodipy-PE, and TopFluor-cholesterol were rapidly trafficked to ehrlichiae in infected cells. DiI (3,3'-dioctadecylindocarbocyanine)-prelabeled host-cell membranes were unidirectionally trafficked to Ehrlichia inclusion and bacterial membranes, but DiI-prelabeled Ehrlichia membranes were not trafficked to host-cell membranes. The trafficking of host-cell membranes to Ehrlichia inclusions was dependent on both host endocytic and autophagic pathways, and bacterial protein synthesis, as the respective inhibitors blocked both infection and trafficking of DiI-labeled host membranes to Ehrlichia In addition, DiI-labeled host-cell membranes were trafficked to autophagosomes induced by the E. chaffeensis type IV secretion system effector Etf-1, which traffic to and fuse with Ehrlichia inclusions. Cryosections of infected cells revealed numerous membranous vesicles inside inclusions, as well as multivesicular bodies docked on the inclusion surface, both of which were immunogold-labeled by a GFP-tagged 2×FYVE protein that binds to phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate. Focused ion-beam scanning electron microscopy of infected cells validated numerous membranous structures inside bacteria-containing inclusions. Our results support the notion that Ehrlichia inclusions are amphisomes formed through fusion of early endosomes, multivesicular bodies, and early autophagosomes induced by Etf-1, and they provide host-cell glycerophospholipids and cholesterol that are necessary for bacterial proliferation.

Increased Incidence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis Infections in the United States, 2012 Through 2016

Human ehrlichioses are tick-borne diseases that have been increasing in incidence in the United States during recent years. Ehrlichia chaffeensis is one of the primary bacteria that cause ehrlichiosis in humans, which typically results in fever-like symptoms, but may also be fatal if left untreated. E. chaffeensis infections are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). This study analyzed the cases of E. chaffeensis infections reported by the NNDSS from 2012 through 2016. There were 6786 cases and the incidence rate was 4.46 cases per million persons per year. The demographic group most commonly infected was white males between the ages of 40 and 64. Infections were most abundant in the southeast and midwest, particularly in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, as well as much of the east coast. The number of cases reported each year from 2012 through 2016 was higher than the number reported in any of the previous 4 years. Ongoing surveillance and reporting of tick-borne diseases are critical to inform public health practice and guide disease treatment and prevention efforts.

Discovery of in vivo Virulence Genes of Obligatory Intracellular Bacteria by Random Mutagenesis

Ehrlichia spp. are emerging tick-borne obligatory intracellular bacteria that cause febrile and sometimes fatal diseases with abnormal blood cell counts and signs of hepatitis. Ehrlichia HF strain provides an excellent mouse disease model of fatal human ehrlichiosis. We recently obtained and established stable culture of Ehrlichia HF strain in DH82 canine macrophage cell line, and obtained its whole genome sequence and annotation. To identify genes required for in vivo virulence of Ehrlichia, we constructed random insertional HF strain mutants by using Himar1 transposon-based mutagenesis procedure. Of total 158 insertional mutants isolated via antibiotic selection in DH82 cells, 74 insertions were in the coding regions of 55 distinct protein-coding genes, including TRP120 and multi-copy genes, such as p28/omp-1, virB2, and virB6. Among 84 insertions mapped within the non-coding regions, seven are located in the putative promoter region since they were within 50 bp upstream of the seven distinct genes. Using limited dilution methods, nine stable clonal mutants that had no apparent defect for multiplication in DH82 cells, were obtained. Mouse virulence of seven mutant clones was similar to that of wild-type HF strain, whereas two mutant clones showed significantly retarded growth in blood, livers, and spleens, and the mice inoculated with them lived longer than mice inoculated with wild-type. The two clones contained mutations in genes encoding a conserved hypothetical protein and a staphylococcal superantigen-like domain protein, respectively, and both genes are conserved among Ehrlichia spp., but lack homology to other bacterial genes. Inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels in the liver of mice infected with the two mutants were significantly diminished than those infected with HF strain wild-type, except IL-1β and IL-12 p40 in one clone. Thus, we identified two Ehrlichia virulence genes responsible for in vivo infection, but not for infection and growth in macrophages.

Amblyomma americanum ticks utilizes countervailing pro and anti-inflammatory proteins to evade host defense

Feeding and transmission of tick-borne disease (TBD) agents by ticks are facilitated by tick saliva proteins (TSP). Thus, defining functional roles of TSPs in tick evasion is expected to reveal potential targets in tick-antigen based vaccines to prevent TBD infections. This study describes two types of Amblyomma americanum TSPs: those that are similar to LPS activate macrophage (MΦ) to express pro-inflammation (PI) markers and another set that suppresses PI marker expression by activated MΦ. We show that similar to LPS, three recombinant (r) A. americanum insulin-like growth factor binding-related proteins (rAamIGFBP-rP1, rAamIGFBP-rP6S, and rAamIGFBP-rP6L), hereafter designated as PI-rTSPs, stimulated both PBMC -derived MΦ and mice RAW 267.4 MΦ to express PI co-stimulatory markers, CD40, CD80, and CD86 and cytokines, TNFα, IL-1, and IL-6. In contrast, two A. americanum tick saliva serine protease inhibitors (serpins), AAS27 and AAS41, hereafter designated as anti-inflammatory (AI) rTSPs, on their own did not affect MΦ function or suppress expression of PI markers, but enhanced expression of AI cytokines (IL-10 and TGFβ) in MΦ that were pre-activated by LPS or PI-rTSPs. Mice paw edema test demonstrated that in vitro validated PI- and AI-rTSPs are functional in vivo since injection of HEK293-expressed PI-rTSPs (individually or as a cocktail) induced edema comparable to carrageenan-induced edema and was characterized by upregulation of CD40, CD80, CD86, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, and chemokines: CXCL1, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, and CCL11, whereas the AI-rTSPs (individually and cocktail) were suppressive. We propose that the tick may utilize countervailing PI and AI TSPs to regulate evasion of host immune defenses whereby TSPs such as rAamIGFBP-rPs activate host immune cells and proteins such as AAS27 and AAS41 suppress the activated immune cells.

Several studies have documented immuno-suppressive activities in whole tick saliva and salivary gland protein extracts. We have made contribution toward understanding the molecular basis of tick feeding, as we have described functions of defined tick saliva immuno-modulatory proteins. We have shown that A. americanum injects two groups of functionally opposed tick saliva proteins: those that could counter-intuitively be characterized as pro-host defense, and those that are expected to have anti-host immune defense functions. Based on our data, we propose that the tick evades host defense using countervailing pro- and anti- inflammatory proteins in which the pro-host defense tick saliva proteins stimulate host immune cells such as macrophages, and the anti-host defense tick saliva proteins suppress functions of the activated immune cells.

Emerging Roles of Autophagy and Inflammasome in Ehrlichiosis

Human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) is a potentially life-threatening tick-borne rickettsial disease (TBRD) caused by the obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria, Ehrlichia. Fatal HME presents with acute ailments of sepsis and toxic shock-like symptoms that can evolve to multi-organ failure and death. Early clinical and laboratory diagnosis of HME are problematic due to non-specific flu-like symptoms and limitations in the current diagnostic testing. Several studies in murine models showed that cell-mediated immunity acts as a “double-edged sword” in fatal ehrlichiosis. Protective components are mainly formed by CD4 Th1 and NKT cells, in contrast to deleterious effects originated from neutrophils and TNF-α-producing CD8 T cells. Recent research has highlighted the central role of the inflammasome and autophagy as part of innate immune responses also leading to protective or pathogenic scenarios. Recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPS) triggers the assembly of the inflammasome complex that leads to multiple outcomes. Recognition of PAMPs or DAMPs by such complexes can result in activation of caspase-1 and -11, secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 culminating into dysregulated inflammation, and inflammatory cell death known as pyroptosis. The precise functions of inflammasomes and autophagy remain unexplored in infections with obligate intracellular rickettsial pathogens, such as Ehrlichia. In this review, we discuss the intracellular innate immune surveillance in ehrlichiosis involving the regulation of inflammasome and autophagy, and how this response influences the innate and adaptive immune responses against Ehrlichia. Understanding such mechanisms would pave the way in research for novel diagnostic, preventative and therapeutic approaches against Ehrlichia and other rickettsial diseases.

Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Its Invasin EtpE Block Reactive Oxygen Species Generation by Macrophages in a DNase X-Dependent Manner

The obligatory intracellular pathogen Ehrlichia chaffeensis lacks most genes that confer resistance to oxidative stress but can block reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by host monocytes-macrophages. Bacterial and host molecules responsible for this inhibition have not been identified. To infect host cells, Ehrlichia uses the C terminus of its surface invasin, entry-triggering protein of Ehrlichia (EtpE; EtpE-C), which directly binds the mammalian cell surface receptor glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein DNase X. We investigated whether EtpE-C binding to DNase X blocks ROS production by mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). On the basis of a luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay, E. chaffeensis inhibited phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced ROS generation by BMDMs from wild-type, but not DNase X^−/−, mice. EtpE-C is critical for inhibition, as recombinant EtpE-C (rEtpE-C)-coated latex beads, but not recombinant N-terminal EtpE-coated or uncoated beads, inhibited PMA-induced ROS generation by BMDMs from wild-type mice. DNase X is required for this inhibition, as none of these beads inhibited PMA-induced ROS generation by BMDMs from DNase X^−/− mice. Previous studies showed that E. chaffeensis does not block ROS generation in neutrophils, a cell type that is a potent ROS generator but is not infected by E. chaffeensis. Human and mouse peripheral blood neutrophils did not express DNase X. Our findings point to a unique survival mechanism of ROS-sensitive obligate intramonocytic bacteria that involves invasin EtpE binding to DNase X on the host cell surface. This is the first report of bacterial invasin having such a subversive activity on ROS generation.

Ehrlichia chaffeensis preferentially infects monocytes-macrophages and causes a life-threatening emerging tick-transmitted infectious disease called human monocytic ehrlichiosis. Ehrlichial infection, and hence the disease, depends on the ability of this bacterium to avoid or overcome powerful microbicidal mechanisms of host monocytes-macrophages, one of which is the generation of ROS. Our findings reveal that an ehrlichial surface invasin, EtpE, not only triggers bacterial entry but also blocks ROS generation by host macrophages through its host cell receptor, DNase X. As ROS sensitivity is an Achilles’ heel of this group of pathogens, understanding the mechanism by which E. chaffeensis rapidly blocks ROS generation suggests a new approach for developing effective anti-infective measures. The discovery of a ROS-blocking pathway is also important, as modulation of ROS generation is important in a variety of ailments and biological processes.

Peptide Nucleic Acid Knockdown and Intra-host Cell Complementation of Ehrlichia Type IV Secretion System Effector

Survival of Ehrlichia chaffeensis depends on obligatory intracellular infection. One of the barriers to E. chaffeensis research progress has been the inability, using conventional techniques, to generate knock-out mutants for genes essential for intracellular infection. This study examined the use of Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs) technology to interrupt type IV secretion system (T4SS) effector protein expression in E. chaffeensis followed by intracellular complementation of the effector to determine its requirement for infection. Successful E. chaffeensis infection depends on the E. chaffeensis-specific T4SS protein effector, ehrlichial translocated factor-1 (Etf-1), which induces Rab5-regulated autophagy to provide host cytosolic nutrients required for E. chaffeensis proliferation. Etf-1 is also imported by host cell mitochondria where it inhibits host cell apoptosis to prolong its infection. We designed a PNA specific to Etf-1 and showed that the PNA bound to the target region of single-stranded Etf-1 RNA using a competitive binding assay. Electroporation of E. chaffeensis with this PNA significantly reduced Etf-1 mRNA and protein, and the bacteria's ability to induce host cell autophagy and infect host cells. Etf-1 PNA-mediated inhibition of ehrlichial Etf-1 expression and E. chaffeensis infection could be intracellularly trans-complemented by ectopic expression of Etf-1-GFP in host cells. These data affirmed the critical role of bacterial T4SS effector in host cell autophagy and E. chaffeensis infection, and demonstrated the use of PNA to analyze the gene functions of obligate intracellular bacteria.

Retinoic acid receptor agonist Am80 inhibits CXCL2 production from microglial BV-2 cells via attenuation of NF-κB signaling

Accumulating lines of evidence suggest that retinoic acid receptor agonists such as Am80 exerts anti-inflammatory actions in the central nervous system, although detailed mechanisms of the action remain largely unknown. Our previous findings suggest that Am80 provides therapeutic effect on intracerebral hemorrhage in mice via suppression of expression of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (CXCL2). Here we investigated the mechanisms of inhibitory action of Am80 on expression of CXCL2 and other pro-inflammatory factors in microglial BV-2 cells. Pretreatment with Am80 markedly suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of CXCL2 mRNA and release of CXCL2 protein. Am80 had no effect on LPS-induced activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. On the other hand, Am80 prevented LPS-induced nuclear translocation of p65 subunit of NF-κB complex. In addition, total expression levels of p65 and IκBα proteins, as well as of mRNAs encoding p65 and IκBα, were lowered by Am80. Dependence of CXCL2 expression on NF-κB was confirmed by the effect of an NF-κB inhibitor caffeic acid phenethyl ester that abolished LPS-induced CXCL2 expression. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester also abolished LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor α, which may be relevant to the inhibitory effect of Am80 on expression of these pro-inflammatory factors. We additionally found that Am80 attenuated LPS-induced up-regulation of CD14, a co-receptor for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). These results suggest that inhibitory effect on TLR4 signaling mediated by NF-κB pathway underlies the anti-inflammatory action of retinoic acid receptor agonists in microglia.

Molecular Pathogenesis of Ehrlichia chaffeensis Infection

Ehrlichia chaffeensis is an obligatory intracellular and cholesterol-dependent bacterium that has evolved special proteins and functions to proliferate inside leukocytes and cause disease. E. chaffeensis has a multigene family of major outer membrane proteins with porin activity and induces infectious entry using its entry-triggering protein to bind the human cell surface protein DNase X. During intracellular replication, three functional pairs of two-component systems are sequentially expressed to regulate metabolism, aggregation, and the development of stress-resistance traits for transmission. A type IV secretion effector of E. chaffeensis blocks mitochondrion-mediated host cell apoptosis. Several type I secretion proteins are secreted at the Ehrlichia-host interface. E. chaffeensis strains induce strikingly variable inflammation in mice. The central role of MyD88, but not Toll-like receptors, suggests that Ehrlichia species have unique inflammatory molecules. A recent report about transient targeted mutagenesis and random transposon mutagenesis suggests that stable targeted knockouts may become feasible in Ehrlichia.

Hacker within! Ehrlichia chaffeensis Effector Driven Phagocyte Reprogramming Strategy

Ehrlichia chaffeensis is a small, gram negative, obligately intracellular bacterium that preferentially infects mononuclear phagocytes. It is the etiologic agent of human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (HME), an emerging life-threatening tick-borne zoonosis. Mechanisms by which E. chaffeensis establishes intracellular infection, and avoids host defenses are not well understood, but involve functionally relevant host-pathogen interactions associated with tandem and ankyrin repeat effector proteins. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie Ehrlichia host cellular reprogramming strategies that enable intracellular survival.

Synergistic Costimulatory Effect of Chlamydia pneumoniae with Carbon Nanoparticles on NLRP3 Inflammasome-Mediated Interleukin-1β Secretion in Macrophages

The obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae is not only a causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia but is also associated with a more serious chronic disease, asthma, which might be exacerbated by air pollution containing carbon nanoparticles. Although a detailed mechanism of exacerbation remains unknown, the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a critical player in the pathogenesis of asthma. C. pneumoniae induces IL-1β in macrophages via NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and Toll-like receptor 2/4 (TLR2/4) stimulation. Carbon nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), can also evoke the NLRP3 inflammasome to trigger IL-1β secretion from lipopolysaccharide-primed macrophages. This study assessed whether costimulation of C. pneumoniae with CNTs synergistically enhanced IL-1β secretion from macrophages, and determined the molecular mechanism involved. Enhanced IL-1β secretion from C. pneumoniae-infected macrophages by CNTs was dose and time dependent. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that C. pneumoniae and CNTs were engulfed concurrently by macrophages. Inhibitors of actin polymerization or caspase-1, a component of the inflammasome, significantly blocked IL-1β secretion. Gene silencing using small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the NLRP3 gene also abolished IL-1β secretion. Other inhibitors (K(+) efflux inhibitor, cathepsin B inhibitor, and reactive oxygen species-generating inhibitor) also blocked IL-1β secretion. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that CNTs synergistically enhanced IL-1β secretion from C. pneumoniae-infected macrophages via the NLRP3 inflammasome and caspase-1 activation, providing novel insight into our understanding of how C. pneumoniae infection can exacerbate asthma.

Alteration of lysosome fusion and low-grade inflammation mediated by super-low-dose endotoxin

Subclinical super-low-dose endotoxin LPS is a risk factor for the establishment of low-grade inflammation during the pathogenesis and progression of chronic diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. At the cellular level, a disruption of lysosome fusion with endosomes or autophagosomes may contribute to the potentiation of low-grade inflammation. In this study, we identified that subclinical super-low-dose endotoxin LPS can potently inhibit the process of endosome acidification and lysosome fusion with endosomes or autophagosomes in primary macrophages. Super-low-dose LPS induced the inhibitory phosphorylation of VPS34, thus leading to the disruption of endosome-lysosome fusion. This effect may depend upon the clearance and relocation of Tollip in macrophages by super-low-dose LPS. Consistent with this notion, Tollip-deficient macrophages had constitutively elevated levels of VPS34 inhibitory phosphorylation and constitutive disruption of endosome-lysosome fusion. By employing a skin excision wound-healing model, we observed that Tollip-deficient mice had significantly elevated levels of cell stress and reduced wound repair. This study reveals a novel mechanism responsible for the modulation of endosome-lysosome fusion and low-grade inflammation in innate macrophages.

The Anaplasma phagocytophilum effector AmpA hijacks host cell SUMOylation

SUMOylation, the covalent attachment of a member of the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) family of proteins to lysines in target substrates, is an essential post-translational modification in eukaryotes. Microbial manipulation of SUMOylation recently emerged as a key virulence strategy for viruses and facultative intracellular bacteria, the latter of which have only been shown to deploy effectors that negatively regulate SUMOylation. Here, we demonstrate that the obligate intracellular bacterium, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, utilizes an effector, AmpA (A. phagocytophilum post-translationally modified protein A) that becomes SUMOylated in host cells and this is important for the pathogen's survival. We previously discovered that AmpA (formerly APH1387) localizes to the A. phagocytophilum-occupied vacuolar membrane (AVM). Algorithmic prediction analyses denoted AmpA as a candidate for SUMOylation. We verified this phenomenon using a SUMO affinity matrix to precipitate both native AmpA and ectopically expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged AmpA. SUMOylation of AmpA was lysine dependent, as SUMO affinity beads failed to precipitate a GFP-AmpA protein when its lysine residues were substituted with arginine. Ectopically expressed and endogenous AmpA were poly-SUMOylated, which was consistent with the observation that AmpA colocalizes with SUMO2/3 at the AVM. Only late during the infection cycle did AmpA colocalize with SUMO1, which terminally caps poly-SUMO2/3 chains. AmpA was also detected in the cytosol of infected host cells, further supporting its secretion and likely participation in interactions that aid pathogen survival. Indeed, whereas siRNA-mediated knockdown of Ubc9 - a necessary enzyme for SUMOylation - slightly bolstered A. phagocytophilum infection, pharmacologically inhibiting SUMOylation in infected cells significantly reduced the bacterial load. Ectopically expressed GFP-AmpA served as a competitive agonist against native AmpA in infected cells, while lysine-deficient GFP-AmpA was less effective, implying that modification of AmpA lysines is important for infection. Collectively, these data show that AmpA becomes directly SUMOylated during infection, representing a novel tactic for A. phagocytophilum survival.

Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection in the reservoir host (white-tailed deer) and in an incidental host (dog) is impacted by its prior growth in macrophage and tick cell environments

Ehrlichia chaffeensis, transmitted from Amblyomma americanum ticks, causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis. It also infects white-tailed deer, dogs and several other vertebrates. Deer are its reservoir hosts, while humans and dogs are incidental hosts. E. chaffeensis protein expression is influenced by its growth in macrophages and tick cells. We report here infection progression in deer or dogs infected intravenously with macrophage- or tick cell-grown E. chaffeensis or by tick transmission in deer. Deer and dogs developed mild fever and persistent rickettsemia; the infection was detected more frequently in the blood of infected animals with macrophage inoculum compared to tick cell inoculum or tick transmission. Tick cell inoculum and tick transmission caused a drop in tick infection acquisition rates compared to infection rates in ticks fed on deer receiving macrophage inoculum. Independent of deer or dogs, IgG antibody response was higher in animals receiving macrophage inoculum against macrophage-derived Ehrlichia antigens, while it was significantly lower in the same animals against tick cell-derived Ehrlichia antigens. Deer infected with tick cell inoculum and tick transmission caused a higher antibody response to tick cell cultured bacterial antigens compared to the antibody response for macrophage cultured antigens for the same animals. The data demonstrate that the host cell-specific E. chaffeensis protein expression influences rickettsemia in a host and its acquisition by ticks. The data also reveal that tick cell-derived inoculum is similar to tick transmission with reduced rickettsemia, IgG response and tick acquisition of E. chaffeensis.

Ehrlichia chaffeensis uses its surface protein EtpE to bind GPI-anchored protein DNase X and trigger entry into mammalian cells

Ehrlichia chaffeensis, an obligatory intracellular rickettsial pathogen, enters and replicates in monocytes/macrophages and several non-phagocytic cells. E. chaffeensis entry into mammalian cells is essential not only for causing the emerging zoonosis, human monocytic ehrlichiosis, but also for its survival. It remains unclear if E. chaffeensis has evolved a specific surface protein that functions as an 'invasin' to mediate its entry. We report a novel entry triggering protein of Ehrlichia, EtpE that functions as an invasin. EtpE is an outer membrane protein and an antibody against EtpE (the C-terminal fragment, EtpE-C) greatly inhibited E. chaffeensis binding, entry and infection of both phagocytes and non-phagocytes. EtpE-C-immunization of mice significantly inhibited E. chaffeensis infection. EtpE-C-coated latex beads, used to investigate whether EtpE-C can mediate cell invasion, entered both phagocytes and non-phagocytes and the entry was blocked by compounds that block E. chaffeensis entry. None of these compounds blocked uptake of non-coated beads by phagocytes. Yeast two-hybrid screening revealed that DNase X, a glycosylphosphatidyl inositol-anchored mammalian cell-surface protein binds EtpE-C. This was confirmed by far-Western blotting, affinity pull-down, co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence labeling, and live-cell image analysis. EtpE-C-coated beads entered bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from wild-type mice, whereas they neither bound nor entered BMDMs from DNase X(-/-) mice. Antibody against DNase X or DNase X knock-down by small interfering RNA impaired E. chaffeensis binding, entry, and infection. E. chaffeensis entry and infection rates of BMDMs from DNase X(-/-) mice and bacterial load in the peripheral blood in experimentally infected DNase X(-/-) mice, were significantly lower than those from wild-type mice. Thus this obligatory intracellular pathogen evolved a unique protein EtpE that binds DNase X to enter and infect eukaryotic cells. This study is the first to demonstrate the invasin and its mammalian receptor, and their in vivo relevance in any ehrlichial species.

MyD88 signaling in CD4 T cells promotes IFN-γ production and hematopoietic progenitor cell expansion in response to intracellular bacterial infection

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) phenotype and function can change in response to infectious challenge. These changes can be mediated by cytokines, IFNs, and pathogen-associated molecules, via TLR, and are thought to promote tailored immune responses for particular pathogens. In this study, we investigated the signals that activate HSPCs during ehrlichiosis, a disease characterized by profound hematopoietic dysfunction in both humans and mice. In a mouse model of ehrlichiosis, we observed that infection-induced proliferation of bone marrow HSPCs was dependent on IFN-γ signaling and was partially dependent on MyD88. However, MyD88 was not required in HSPCs for their expansion during infection, because similar frequencies of MyD88-deficient and wild-type HSPCs proliferated in mixed bone marrow chimeric mice. MyD88-deficient mice exhibited low serum and bone marrow concentration of IFN-γ compared with wild-type mice. We next identified CD4 T cells as the primary cells producing IFN-γ in the bone marrow and demonstrated a nonredundant role for CD4-derived IFN-γ in increased HSPCs. Using mixed bone marrow chimeric mice, we identified a requirement for MyD88 in CD4 T cells for increased T-bet expression, optimal IFN-γ production, and CD4 T cell proliferation. Our data demonstrate an essential role for CD4 T cells in mediating HSPC activation in response to bacterial infection and illustrate a novel role for MyD88 signaling in CD4 T cells in this process. These findings further support the idea that IFN-γ production is essential for HSPC activation and hematopoietic responses to infection.

Penicillin-binding protein of Ehrlichia chaffeensis: cytokine induction through MyD88-dependent pathway

BACKGROUND

Human monocytic ehrlichiosis is one of the most prevalent tick-borne zoonoses caused by infection with Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Although E. chaffeensis lacks entire lipopolysaccharide and most peptidoglycan biosynthesis genes, it induces inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Ehrlichia chaffeensis components that induce inflammation and the responsive host cell pathway are not known.

METHODS

Expression of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) in E. chaffeensis was analyzed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and Bocillin FL binding assay. Next, recombinant PBP, which was high-pressure liquid chromatography purified, and native PBP of E. chaffeensis were investigated for their ability to induce proinflammatory cytokines in the human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from wild-type and MyD88 knockout mice.

RESULTS

Expression of PBP by E. chaffeensis was upregulated during its intracellular life cycle. PBP induced interleukin 8 or CXCL2, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β, and interleukin 10 in THP-1 cells and BMDMs. Cytokine induction by PBP was MyD88-dependent. Removal of PBP from E. chaffeensis lysate using penicillin affinity column and a complementation assay confirmed cytokine-inducing activity of native PBP.

CONCLUSIONS

The cytokine-inducing activity by E. chaffeensis PBP provides novel insights into pathogen-associated molecular patterns and pathogenesis of E. chaffeensis infection.

Ehrlichia type IV secretion effector ECH0825 is translocated to mitochondria and curbs ROS and apoptosis by upregulating host MnSOD

Ehrlichia chaffeensis infects monocytes/macrophages and causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis. To determine the role of type IV secretion (T4S) system in infection, candidates for T4S effectors were identified by bacterial two-hybrid screening of E. chaffeensis hypothetical proteins with positively charged C-terminus using E. chaffeensis VirD4 as bait. Of three potential T4S effectors, ECH0825 was highly upregulated early during exponential growth in a human monocytic cell line. ECH0825 was translocated from the bacterium into the host-cell cytoplasm and localized to mitochondria. Delivery of anti-ECH0825 into infected host cells significantly reduced bacterial infection. Ectopically expressed ECH0825 also localized to mitochondria and inhibited apoptosis of transfected cells in response to etoposide treatment. In double transformed yeast, ECH0825 localized to mitochondria and inhibited human Bax-induced apoptosis. Mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) was increased over ninefold in E. chaffeensis-infected cells, and the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in infected cells was significantly lower than that in uninfected cells. Similarly, MnSOD was upregulated and the ROS level was reduced in ECH0825-transfected cells. These data suggest that, by upregulating MnSOD, ECH0825 prevents ROS-induced cellular damage and apoptosis to allow intracellular infection. This is the first example of host ROS levels linked to a bacterial T4S effector.