Myeloperoxidase-Cl--H2O2 bactericidal system: effect of bacterial membrane structure and growth conditions

Redundant contribution of myeloperoxidase-dependent systems to neutrophil-mediated killing of Escherichia coli

Neutrophil microbicidal activity is a consequence of overlapping antimicrobial systems that vary in prominence according to the conditions of the neutrophil-microbe interaction, the nature of the microbe, and its metabolic state. In this study, normal, myeloperoxidase-deficient, and respiratory burst-deficient (chronic granulomatous disease [CGD]) neutrophils killed Escherichia coli with equivalent, high efficiencies. Killing by CGD and myeloperoxidase-deficient neutrophils was not augmented by supplements, such as exogenous H2O2 and myeloperoxidase, directed at ameliorating their metabolic defects, suggesting that nonoxidative microbicidal systems were sufficient for a full microbicidal effect. Neutrophils with an intact myeloperoxidase antimicrobial system (normal or appropriately supplemented deficient cells) were capable of rapidly suppressing E. coli DNA synthesis, while unsupplemented CGD or myeloperoxidase-deficient cells were far less effective, indicating that the myeloperoxidase system was active in normal neutrophils. The degree of DNA synthesis inhibition by myeloperoxidase-sufficient neutrophils could account, in a cell-free system, for most of the observed microbicidal activity. While the myeloperoxidase system was active and probably bactericidal, it was not rate limiting for microbicidal activity and appears to have been redundant with other microbicidal systems in the cell. Rapid and extensive inhibition of bacterial DNA synthesis appears to be an indicator of myeloperoxidase activity in neutrophils.

Sensitivity of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Haemophilus aphrophilus to oxidative killing

We examined the killing of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Haemophilus aphrophilus by oxygen metabolites generated by the xanthine-xanthine oxidase (X-XO) system. This system generates a mixture of oxidants, including superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and possibly singlet oxygen. Differential sensitivity to the X-XO system was observed among strains of A. actinomycetemcomitans; notably, 2 catalase-deficient strains and 2 strains representative of serotypes b and c were the most susceptible. H. aphrophilus was not sensitive. The amount of oxidants produced by the X-XO system more closely correlated with killing than the ratio of oxidant production. Cytochrome c, superoxide dismutase, catalase, dimethyl sulfoxide, and desferrioxamine were used to determine the role of superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical in the bactericidal process. Hydrogen peroxide was the major bactericidal agent against A. actinomycetemcomitans. Superoxide anion participated in killing of A. actinomycetemcomitans to varying but lesser degrees. The intracellular generation of hydroxyl radical was implicated in the killing of several strains. We conclude that (i) strains of A. actinomycetemcomitans are differentially sensitive to the bactericidal effects of the X-XO system and (ii) of the oxidants produced by the X-XO system, hydrogen peroxide is the most bactericidal against A. actinomycetemcomitans.

O antigen and lipid A phosphoryl groups in resistance of Salmonella typhimurium LT-2 to nonoxidative killing in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils

We have compared the intraleukocytic survival of isogenic strains of Salmonella typhimurium, whose outer membrane lipopolysaccharide differed in O antigen and lipid A composition and whose susceptibility to nonoxidative antimicrobial granule proteins of human polymorphonuclear neutrophilis (PMN) could be established. We found that the order of resistance to the bactericidal activity of intact PMN of the three bacterial strains utilized closely resembled their ordered resistance to the purified human cationic antimicrobial 57,000-dalton protein (CAP57). LT-2, a smooth wild-type strain, was far more resistant than SH9178, its rough (Rb LPS) mutant. It was most significant that SH7426, a polymyxin B-resistant pmrA mutant of SH9178, not only was substantially more resistant to CAP57 and to intraphagocytic killing than SH9178 but also came close to being as resistant as LT-2. These experiments confirm earlier work that showed the importance of the glycosyl groups of O antigens of S. typhimurium for their resistance to O2-independent antimicrobial phagocytosis by PMN. The surprising result was that a rough strain, very susceptible to bactericide, became substantially more resistant when a mutation led to its lipid A phosphoryl groups being 100% substituted with amino pentoses. Yet unresolved is whether the protection is due to the loss of negative charges on the lipid A, the substitution of sugar molecules in vulnerable loci in the outer membrane, or both.

Differential modulation of adherence of oral streptococci by human neutrophil myeloperoxidase

In this study, the modulation of adherence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-producing and non-H2O2-producing strains of oral streptococci by the host leukocyte enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO) was examined. It was found that exposure to MPO decreased adherence of many strains of oral streptococci to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads in the presence of exogenous H2O2 and chloride. The MPO-H2O2-Cl-system increased the adherence of one strain. In the absence of exogenous H2O2, the MPO-H2O2-Cl-system decreased the adherence of H2O2-producing strains only. Glucose increased streptococcal H2O2 production and also increased the anti-adhesive activity of MPO in the absence of exogenous H2O2. We conclude that: (1) host leukocytes can modulate the adherence of oral streptococci via MPO; (2) endogenous production of H2O2 by the oral streptococci can provide sufficient substrate H2O2 to drive this system; and (3) MPO will exert differential modulatory effects on the adherence of oral streptococci, based in part upon the level of endogenous H2O2 production and in part upon the particular characteristics of the adhesins of the bacteria.

Killing of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans by the human neutrophil myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-chloride system

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a facultative gram-negative coccobacillus associated with periodontal disease and nonoral infections. This organism is resistant to serum bactericidal mechanisms but is nevertheless killed by human neutrophils under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Most of the killing attributable to oxidative mechanisms is inhibited by sodium cyanide, which suggests that the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-chloride (MPO-H2O2-Cl-) system may be a key factor in the oxidative killing process. In this report, we examine whether the isolated MPO-H2O2-Cl- system is bactericidal against A. actinomycetemcomitans. We found that three major chromatographic forms of MPO were capable of killing A. actinomycetemcomitans at sublethal concentrations of H2O2 and that both catalase-positive and catalase-negative strains of this organism were sensitive to killing by the MPO-H2O2-Cl- system. We conclude that the isolated MPO-H2O2-Cl- system is bactericidal for A. actinomycetemcomitans independent of other neutrophil granule constituents and may be an important component of the oxygen-dependent bactericidal activity of the neutrophil with respect to this periodontopathic organism.

Bactericidal and opsonizing effects of normal serum on mutant strains of Salmonella typhimurium

The bactericidal and opsonizing effects of normal human serum on six strains of Salmonella typhimurium LT-2 having different lipopolysaccharide (LPS) composition were demonstrated through five indices. Complement activity in the presence of antibody was important for the opsonization of all six strains and for the bactericidal effect on rough mutants. Complement activity, either in the presence or absence of antibody, was involved in the ingestion strains of SL 901 (SR) and SL 1032 (Rd1) by human neutrophils. Strain SH 5014 (Rb2) was avidly ingested by neutrophils and totally dependent on complement activity in the presence of antibody. The ingestion of strain SH 2201 (S) was also mediated exclusively by complement activity in the presence of antibody but not as efficiently as were rough mutants. Antibody, as demonstrated by quantitative fluorescence, enhanced the complement activity on the ingestion of the S, SR, and Rb2 strains by neutrophils. The intracellular killing of six strains was enhanced significantly by complement activity in the presence of antibody. The overall survival in the presence of serum and neutrophils decreased as the LPS became shorter. Complement activity in the presence of antibody enhanced extracellular killing only for strains SL 901 (SR) and his 515 (Ra). It was shown that there was no difference between SR and Ra strains in all five indices, suggesting that the one additional O-antigen side chain does not make the SR strain more resistant than the Ra strain. Although resistance by S. typhimurium to host defense mechanisms increases as the LPS chain length increases, the specific LPS structure appears to be of greater importance, especially with respect to opsonization.

Influence of endogenous catalase activity on the sensitivity of the oral bacterium Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and the oral haemophili to the bactericidal properties of hydrogen peroxide

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and the genetically-related oral haemophili (Haemophilus segnis, Haemophilus aprhophilus and Haemophilus paraphrophilus) exhibit a range of sensitivities to the lethal effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), A. actinomycetemcomitans being the most resistant. To extend this information, susceptibility to a range of H2O2 concentrations (10(-6)-10(-3) M) was assessed by incubating bacterial suspensions for 1 h at 37 degrees C in the presence of H2O2 and spreading the suspensions on chocolate agar plates to determine the concentration of H2O2 producing a 50 per cent reduction in colony-forming units (LD50). Catalase activity was quantified with a Clark-type oxygen electrode, which polarographically monitored the formation of dissolved oxygen in bacterial suspensions or sonicates following addition of reagent H2O2. Sensitivity to H2O2 did not correlate with catalase activity, either in intact cells or in bacterial sonicates. Specifically, some bacterial strains with undetectable catalase activity were highly resistant to H2O2. Micromolar concentrations of sodium azide which completely inhibited cell-associated catalase activity did not affect the resistance of A. actinomycetemcomitans to H2O2. Thus, the endogenous catalase activity of A. actinomycetemcomitans and certain oral haemophili is not an important determinant of resistance to the bactericidal effects of H2O2.

Resistance of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and differential susceptibility of oral Haemophilus species to the bactericidal effects of hydrogen peroxide

We compared the sensitivities of oral and nonoral isolates of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Haemophilus segnis, H. aphrophilus, and H. paraphrophilus to the bactericidal action of reagent hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Susceptibility to a range of H2O2 concentrations (10(-6) to 10(-3) M) was assessed by incubating bacterial suspensions for 1 h at 37 degrees C in the presence of H2O2 and plating on chocolate agar to determine the concentration of H2O2 that would produce a 50% reduction in CFU (50% lethal dose). As a group, A. actinomycetemcomitans was more resistant to H2O2 than the oral haemophili, and H. aphrophilus was much more sensitive than all other organisms tested. The range of 50% lethal dose values for A. actinomycetemcomitans was between 8.5 X 10(-5) and 10(-3) M H2O2 or above. In contrast, H. aphrophilus exhibited 50% lethal dose values from below 1 X 10(-6) to 3.4 X 10(-4) M H2O2. The resistance of A. actinomycetemcomitans to H2O2 may be sufficient to protect these organisms from direct H2O2-mediated killing by host phagocytes.

Interferon decreases production of hydrogen peroxide by macrophages: correlation with reduction of suppressive capacity and of anti-microbial activity

Mouse peritoneal macrophages (M phi) expressed enhanced tumoricidal activity upon in vitro stimulation either with the lymphokine M phi-activating factor (MAF) or with fibroblast interferon (IFN-beta). In contrast, M phi suppressive activity on lymphoproliferation was not affected by MAF pretreatment, but was drastically reduced or abolished by IFN-beta. Catalase, the enzyme involved in the destruction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), did significantly decrease M phi suppressive capacity but had no effect on M phi tumoricidal activity. Analysis of the phagocytosis-dependent H2O2 production by IFN-beta-treated M phi demonstrated a strong impairment of the oxygen metabolite release, which strictly paralleled the decreased M phi suppressive capacity. On the other hand, MAF did not modify H2O2 release by M phi. Studies on M phi antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhimurium, a function thought to depend upon H2O2 production, showed that exposure of M phi to IFN-beta significantly impaired their bactericidal and bacteriostatic capacity, again in close correlation with the decrease in H2O2 production. Thus, IFN-beta appears as modulating both suppressive and antibacterial capacities of M phi through reduction of their oxygen metabolism, whereas regulation of M phi anti-tumour activity is possibly controlled by different mechanisms.

Bactericidal activity of granule contents from rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Granule contents from rat polymorphonuclear neutrophils were prepared by extraction with 0.2 M acetate (pH 4), dialyzed against phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7), and tested for bactericidal activity. Bactericidal assays consisted of mixing rat granule extract with 1 x 10(3) to 3 x 10(3) bacterial cells per ml at 37 degrees C for 1 h in a medium suited for bacterial growth. The granule extract demonstrated a distinctive dose-dependent bactericidal activity against outer membrane lipopolysaccharide mutants of Salmonella typhimurium LT-2, independent of added hydrogen peroxide or other active oxygen derivatives. The rough bacterial mutants showed an ordered increase in sensitivity to the rat lysosomal extracts inversely related to the length of their lipopolysaccharide carbohydrate side chains. Fractionation of the rat polymorphonuclear neutrophil granule extract with Sephadex G-100 column chromatography revealed an elution profile containing three major areas (peaks) of protein. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and examination of enzymatic activity showed that these peaks contained myeloperoxidase (peak A), neutral protease (peak B), and lysozyme (peak C) activities. Also observed in peak C were cationic protein species whose cathodal electrophoretic migration was faster than that for lysozyme. Only peak C exhibited a bactericidal activity against the rough mutants of S. typhimurium LT-2 similar to that obtained for the unfractionated granule extract, with susceptibility of the bacterial mutants increasing with a progressive loss of carbohydrate residues in the lipopolysaccharide of the cell wall. The bactericidal activity of the peak C protein fraction was dose dependent. Boiling the unfractionated granule extract or peak C for 30 min had little affect on their antimicrobial activity when reacted against a deep-rough lipopolysaccharide mutant. However, trypsin pretreatment of these fractions significantly reduced their antimicrobial activity for the same mutant chemotype.

Effect of growth phase and cell envelope structure on susceptibility of Salmonella typhimurium to the lactoperoxidase-thiocyanate-hydrogen peroxide system

The lactoperoxidase-thiocyanate-hydrogen peroxide system was found to have both bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities against strains of Salmonella typhimurium. The bactericidal activity was clearly dependent on the permeability of the bacterial cell envelope. The deep rough mutant TA1535, with the most permeable cell envelope, was killed both at neutral and acid pH, whereas very little or no killing was observed with the intact cells of the parent strain hisG46. The delta gal mutant, TA1530, representing an intermediate in cell envelope permeability, was inhibited to a much lesser extent than TA1535. Bacteria in log phase of growth were more sensitive to the bactericidal effects than were those in stationary phase. Growth phase had little influence on the bacteriostatic effects. The hisG46 strain produced significant quantities of acid in the presence of glucose. This acid production was inhibited by the lactoperoxidase-thiocyanate-hydrogen peroxide system, and, in contrast to results obtained with several strains of streptococci, this inhibition was not reversed by addition of a reducing agent (2-mercaptoethanol).

Outer membrane mutants of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 have lipopolysaccharide-dependent resistance to the bactericidal activity of anaerobic human neutrophils

The capacity of neutrophil polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNs) to phagocytize bacteria under anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions afforded the opportunity to compare the bactericidal activities of oxygen-independent and oxygen-dependent antimicrobial mechanisms in human PMNs challenged with Salmonella typhimurium LT2 and its lipopolysaccharide mutants (outer membrane mutants). Anaerobic human PMNs challenged with either opsonized LT2 or serum-treated zymosan failed to produce detectable superoxide anion (O2-) or to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium, although aerobic PMNs readily produced O2- in response to such challenge. Anaerobic PMNs killed these bacteria in an ordered fashion that appeared to be dependent on their lipopolysaccharide chemotype. As the carbohydrate content of the mutant lipopolysaccharide decreased, the bacteria became less resistant to the oxygen-independent bactericidal activity. The results resembled the ordered resistance to oxygen-independent killing observed with LT2 and its mutants in PMN-free systems with PMN granule proteins. Studies on the kinetics of killing showed these to be less rapid in anaerobic as compared with aerobic conditions. Opsonization increased the rate of phagocytosis, but such factors as opsonization and the rate of phagocytosis did not appear to affect intraleukocytic bactericidal capacity in that the resultant proportion of bacteria remaining viable after ingestion was similar regardless of which serum was used (normal serum, C6-deficient serum, C8-deficient serum, or no serum at all). The results are consistent with an active and substantial participation by oxygen-independent systems in the antimicrobial effects of neutrophils.

Myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-chloride antimicrobial system: effect of exogenous amines on antibacterial action against Escherichia coli

Exogenous ammonium ions (NH(4) (+)) and amine compounds had a profound influence on the antibacterial activity of the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-chloride system against Escherichia coli. The rate of killing increased in the presence of NH(4) (+) and certain guanidino compounds and decreased in the presence of alpha-amino acids, polylysine, taurine, or tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane. Myeloperoxidase catalyzed the oxidation of chloride to hypochlorous acid, which reacted either with bacterial amine or amide components or both or with the exogenous compounds to yield chloramine or chloramide derivatives or both. These nitrogen-chlorine derivatives could oxidize bacterial components. Killing was correlated with oxidation of bacterial components. The rate of oxidation of bacterial sulfhydryls increased in the presence of the compounds that increased the rate of killing and decreased in the presence of the other compounds. The reaction of HOCl with NH(4) (+) yielded monochloramine (NH(2)Cl), which could be extracted into organic solvents. The N-Cl derivatives of bacterial components or of polylysine, taurine, or tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane could not be extracted. The effect of NH(4) (+) on killing is attributed to the ability of NH(2)Cl to penetrate the hydrophobic cell membrane and thus to oxidize intracellular components. Polylysine, taurine, and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane formed high-molecular-weight, charged, or polar N-Cl derivatives that would be unable to penetrate the cell membrane. These results suggest an important role for leukocyte amine components in myeloperoxidase-catalyzed antimicrobial activity in vivo.