Microarray analysis of Aeromonas hydrophila cytotoxic enterotoxin-treated murine primary macrophages

Aeromonas hydrophila inhibits autophagy triggering cytosolic translocation of mtDNA which activates the pro-apoptotic caspase-1/IL-1β-nitric oxide axis in headkidney macrophages

The molecular mechanisms underlying Aeromonas hydrophila-pathogenesis are not well understood. Using head kidney macrophages (HKM) of Clarias gariepinus, we previously reported the role of ER-stress in A. hydrophila-induced pathogenesis. Here, we report that PI3K/PLC-induced cytosolic-Ca²⁺ imbalance induces the expression of pro-apoptotic ER-stress marker, CHOP in A. hydrophila-infected HKM. CHOP promotes HKM apoptosis by inhibiting AKT activation and enhancing JNK signaling. Elevated mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) was recorded which declined significantly by ameliorating ER-stress and in the presence of ER-Ca²⁺ release modulators (2-APB and dantrolene) and mitochondrial-Ca²⁺ uptake inhibitor, Ru360, together suggesting the role of ER-mitochondrial Ca²⁺ dynamics in mtROS generation. Inhibiting mtROS production reduced HKM death implicating the pro-apoptotic role of mtROS in A. hydrophila-pathogenesis. The expression of autophagic proteins (LC3B, beclin-1, and atg 5) was suppressed in the infected HKM. Our results with autophagy-inducer rapamycin demonstrated that impaired autophagy favored the cytosolic accumulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the process depended on mtROS levels. Enhanced caspase-1 activity and IL-1β production was detected and transfection studies coupled with pharmacological inhibitors implicated mtROS/mtDNA axis to be crucial for activating the caspase-1/IL-1β cascade in infected HKM. RNAi studies further suggested the involvement of IL-1β in generating pro-apoptotic NO in A. hydrophila-infected HKM. Our study suggests a novel role of ER-mitochondria cross-talk in regulating A. hydrophila pathogenesis. Based on our observations, we conclude that A. hydrophila induces ER-stress and inhibits mitophagy resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction which leads to mtROS production and translocation of mtDNA into cytosol triggering the activation of caspase-1/IL-1β-mediated NO production, culminating in HKM apoptosis.

Designing of New Optical Immunosensors Based on 2-Amino-4-(anthracen-9-yl)-7-hydroxy-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile for the Detection of Aeromonas hydrophila in the Organs of Oreochromis mossambicus Fingerlings

A one-pot greener methodology has been adopted for the synthesis of a simple 4H-chromene core-based fluorescent tag of (S)-2-amino-4-(anthracen-9-yl)-7-hydroxy-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile (AHC), and its structure has been analyzed using NMR spectroscopy. The physicochemical properties of AHC were well-studied by UV-vis and fluorescent spectroscopy techniques. As a result of excellent emitting property (ϕ ≈ 0.75), it has been coupled with anti-AH through amide linkage, and the AHC-tagged anti-AH has been used as an immunoassay for the selective detection of Aeromonas hydrophila in the presence of interfering pathogens. Under optimized conditions, immunosensors could successfully quantify A. hydrophila from 4 to 736 CFU/mL, and the LOD was 2 CFU/mL. Saliently, the immunoassay has been successfully demonstrated for the analysis of A. hydrophila in the organs of Oreochromis mossambicusfingerlings, and results have shown a very good agreement with our optimized neat AH fluorimetric titration results.

Lactobacillus acidophilus attenuates Aeromonas hydrophila induced cytotoxicity in catla thymus macrophages by modulating oxidative stress and inflammation

The pathogenesis of Aeromonas hydrophila, a potent fish pathogen, is attributed to its ability to cause motile aeromonad septicaemia leading to apoptosis in a myriad of fish species, including freshwater carp Catla catla. However, the underlying mechanism of antagonistic activity of probiotics against A. hydrophila induced apoptosis is not elucidated due to lack of appropriate in-vitro models. This study reported that the exposure of catla thymus macrophages (CTM) to A. hydrophila markedly induced cellular injuries as evidenced by elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), increased apoptosis, DNA damage and decreased cellular viability. Flow cytometry analysis and Annexin-V/propidium iodide assay further confirmed increased ROS positive cells leading to cell death after infection. The quantitative real-time PCR analysis, also revealed upregulation of inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS), pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNFα), cyclooxygenase2 (COX-2) and downregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10). Pretreatment of cells with probiotic, Lactobacillus acidophilus attenuated A. hydrophila induced apoptosis as evident from the decrease in the levels of ROS, RNS and DNA damage. Significant increase (P≤0.05) in expression of TNFα and IL-10 and decrease in iNOS and COX-2 was observed on probiotic stimulation. In-vivo study using catla fingerlings confirmed similar pattern of ROS, iNOS, NO production and cytokine expression in thymus. This study provides a comprehensive insight into the mechanistic basis of L. acidophilus induced macrophage mediated inflammatory response against A. hydrophila in CTM cells. Further, it speculates the possibility of using cost-effective in-vitro models for screening probiotic candidates of therapeutic potential in aquaculture industry.

Modulation of host immune defenses by Aeromonas and Yersinia species: convergence on toxins secreted by various secretion systems

Like other pathogenic bacteria, Yersinia and Aeromonas species have been continuously co-evolving with their respective hosts. Although the former is a bonafide human pathogen, the latter has gained notararity as an emerging disease-causing agent. In response to immune cell challenges, bacterial pathogens have developed diverse mechanism(s) enabling their survival, and, at times, dominance over various host immune defense systems. The bacterial type three secretion system (T3SS) is evolutionarily derived from flagellar subunits and serves as a vehicle by which microbes can directly inject/translocate anti-host factors/effector proteins into targeted host immune cells. A large number of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens possess a T3SS empowering them to disrupt host cell signaling, actin cytoskeleton re-arrangements, and even to induce host-cell apoptotic and pyroptotic pathways. All pathogenic yersiniae and most Aeromonas species possess a T3SS, but they also possess T2- and T6-secreted toxins/effector proteins. This review will focus on the mechanisms by which the T3SS effectors Yersinia outer membrane protein J (YopJ) and an Aeromonas hydrophila AexU protein, isolated from the diarrheal isolate SSU, mollify host immune system defenses. Additionally, the mechanisms that are associated with host cell apoptosis/pyroptosis by Aeromonas T2SS secreted Act, a cytotoxic enterotoxin, and Hemolysin co-regulated protein (Hcp), an A. hydrophila T6SS effector, will also be discussed.

Emerging Aeromonas species infections and their significance in public health

Aeromonas species are ubiquitous bacteria in terrestrial and aquatic milieus. They are becoming renowned as enteric pathogens of serious public health concern as they acquire a number of virulence determinants that are linked with human diseases, such as gastroenteritis, soft-tissue, muscle infections, septicemia, and skin diseases. Proper sanitary procedures are essential in the prevention of the spread of Aeromonas infections. Oral fluid electrolyte substitution is employed in the prevention of dehydration, and broad-spectrum antibiotics are used in severe Aeromonas outbreaks. This review presents an overview of emerging Aeromonas infections and proposes the need for actions necessary for establishing adequate prevention measures against the infections.

The early response of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) macrophages exposed in vitro to Aeromonas salmonicida cultured in broth and in fish

Aeromonas salmonicida is a fish pathogen that causes furunculosis. Virulent strains of this bacterium are able to infect salmonid macrophages and survive within them, although mechanisms favouring intracellular survival are not completely understood. It is known that A. salmonicida cultured in vivo in the peritoneal cavity of the host undergoes changes in gene expression and surface architecture compared with cultures grown in vitro in broth. Therefore, in this study, the early macrophage responses to A. salmonicida grown in vivo and in vitro were compared. Macrophage-enriched cell preparations from head kidney of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were infected in vitro in 96-well microtitre dishes and changes in gene expression during the infection process were monitored using a custom Atlantic salmon cDNA microarray. A. salmonicida cultures grown in tryptic soy broth and in peritoneal implants were used to infect the macrophages. The macrophages were harvested at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0h after addition of the bacteria to the medium. Significant changes in gene expression were evident by microarray analysis at 2.0h post-infection in macrophages infected with broth-grown and implant-grown bacteria; however, qPCR analysis revealed earlier up-regulation of JunB and TNF-alpha in macrophages exposed to the implant-grown bacteria. Up-regulation of those genes and others is consistent with the effects of extracellular products of aeromonad bacteria on macrophages and also suggests initiation of the innate immune response.

Systems biology of macrophages

Cells and tissues function in context. Under a given growth or survival medium they perform tasks, replicate and die. Given a stimulus they respond by invoking myriad biomolecular networks that result in a specified cellular outcome. At any given instant it can be argued that the cell is in a "state" defined by its components--their concentrations and locations, the interactions between components--that are modulated in space and time, and the complex circuitry--that involves a large number of interacting networks and a snapshot of the dynamical processes--such as gene expression, cell cycle, transport of components, etc. At present, we can measure, using high and low throughput methods, several cellular components in a context-dependent manner and obtain a partial picture of cellular networks and dynamical processes. Are these measurements sufficient to answer important biological questions and help reconstruct a systems-level understanding of a mammalian cell? This chapter will address systems biology strategies developed to address this question and demonstrate the power of integration of diverse cellular data for answering interesting biological questions in macrophages. We will use this systems biology approach to address the following questions: (1) How good are macrophage cell lines in addressing phenotypic biology of primary macrophages? (2) How do signals associated with inflammatory molecules regulate gene transcription in macrophages? (3) How can we combine proteomic and other cellular measurements to characterize the repertoire of upstream signaling networks invoked by macrophages? (4) How do designed knockdowns of proteins influence cellular phenotypes?

Global transcriptional responses of wild-type Aeromonas hydrophila and its virulence-deficient mutant in a murine model of infection

We previously generated a double knockout mutant (act/aopB) of a diarrheal isolate SSU of A. hydrophila, in which the genes encoding Aeromonas outer membrane protein B (AopB), a structural component of the type III secretion system (T3SS), and a type II (T2)-secreted cytotoxic enterotoxin gene (act) were deleted. This mutant exhibited minimal virulence in mice, compared to animals infected with wild-type (WT) A. hydrophila. Based on microarray analyses, WT A. hydrophila altered the expression of 434 and 80 genes in murine macrophages (RAW 264.7) and human colonic epithelial cells (HT-29), respectively. Approximately half of these gene expression alterations were abrogated when host cells were infected instead with the act/aopB mutant. In this study, we used microarrays to examine early host transcriptional responses in spleens of mice infected for 3h with WT A. hydrophila or its act/aopB mutant. Our data indicated that expression of 221 genes was altered (158 up-regulated and 63 down-regulated) in spleens of WT bacteria-infected animals. There were 21 genes that were consistently more highly expressed in WT A. hydrophila-infected mice, compared to mice infected with its act/aopB mutant. Ten of these genes were either induced to a lesser extent (e.g., interleukin-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, and cyclooxygenase-2), not altered at all (e.g., killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily B member A), or down-regulated (e.g., cytochrome P450) in animals infected with A. hydrophila, compared to phosphate-buffered saline-infected control animals, when the mutant was used instead of the WT. We verified the microarray results at the transcript level by performing real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction on selected genes and at the protein level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry. This is the first study demonstrating in vivo gene regulation in mice infected with A. hydrophila and the contribution of virulence factors and host responses to the disease process.

Caspase-1 activation of lipid metabolic pathways in response to bacterial pore-forming toxins promotes cell survival

Many pathogenic organisms produce pore-forming toxins as virulence factors. Target cells however mount a response to such membrane damage. Here we show that toxin-induced membrane permeabilization leads to a decrease in cytoplasmic potassium, which promotes the formation of a multiprotein oligomeric innate immune complex, called the inflammasome, and the activation of caspase-1. Further, we find that when rendered proteolytic in this context caspase-1 induces the activation of the central regulators of membrane biogenesis, the Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins (SREBPs), which in turn promote cell survival upon toxin challenge possibly by facilitating membrane repair. This study highlights that, in addition to its well-established role in triggering inflammation via the processing of the precursor forms of interleukins, caspase-1 has a broader role, in particular linking the intracellular ion composition to lipid metabolic pathways, membrane biogenesis, and survival.

Murine macrophage transcriptional and functional responses to Bacillus anthracis edema toxin

Edema toxin (EdTx), which is a combination of edema factor and a binding moiety (protective antigen), is produced by Bacillus anthracis, the etiological agent of anthrax. EdTx is an adenylyl cyclase enzyme that converts adenosine triphosphate to adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate, resulting in interstitial edema seen in anthrax patients. We used GeneChip analysis to examine global transcriptional profiles of EdTx-treated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage-like cells and identified 71 and 259 genes whose expression was significantly altered by the toxin at 3 and 6h, respectively. Alteration in the expression levels of selected genes was confirmed by real time-reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The genes with up-regulated expression in macrophages in response to EdTx-treatment were known to be involved in inflammatory responses, regulation of apoptosis, adhesion, immune cell activation, and transcription regulation. Additionally, GeneChip analysis results implied that EdTx-induced activation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and CAAAT/enhancer-binding protein-beta (C/EBP-beta). Gel shift assays were therefore performed, and an increase in the activities of both of these transcription factors was observed within 30 min. EdTx also inhibited tumor necrosis factor alpha production and crippled the phagocytic ability of the macrophages. This is the first report detailing the host cell global transcriptional responses to EdTx.

An adenoviral vector for probing promoter activity in primary immune cells

Functional analysis of the DNA regulatory regions that control gene expression has largely been performed through transient transfection of promoter-reporter constructs into transformed cells. However, transformed cells are often poor models of primary cells. To directly analyze DNA regulatory regions in primary cells, we generated a novel adenoviral luciferase reporter vector, pShuttle-luciferase-GFP (pSLUG) that contains a promoterless luciferase cassette (with an upstream cloning site) for probing promoter activity, and a GFP expression cassette that allows for the identification of transduced cells. Recombinant adenoviruses generated from this vector can transduce a wide range of primary immune cells with high efficiency, including human macrophages, dendritic cells and T cells; and mouse T cells transgenic for the coxsackie and adenoviral receptor (CAR). In primary T cells, we show inducible nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT) activity using a recombinant pSLUG adenovirus containing a consensus NF-AT promoter. We further show inducible IL-12/23 p40 promoter activity in primary macrophages and dendritic cells using a recombinant pSLUG adenovirus containing the proximal human IL-12/23 p40 promoter. The pSLUG system promises to be a powerful tool for the analysis of DNA regulatory regions in diverse types of primary immune cells.

Deletion of the genes encoding the type III secretion system and cytotoxic enterotoxin alters host responses to Aeromonas hydrophila infection

In our previous study, we deleted the gene encoding Aeromonas outer membrane protein B (AopB), a structural component of the type III secretion system (T3SS) from a cytotoxic enterotoxin gene (act)-minus diarrheal isolate SSU of Aeromonas hydrophila. Our laboratory also molecularly characterized the cytotoxic enterotoxin (Act), which is secreted by the bacterium utilizing the type II secretion system (T2SS). The act/aopB mutant exhibited significantly reduced cytotoxicity to cultured cells (e.g. RAW 264.7 murine macrophages and HT-29 human colonic epithelial cells) and was avirulent in mice. In this study, we developed additional A. hydrophila mutants in which T3SS-associated ascV and acrV genes were deleted, either individually or in combination with that of the act gene, to examine host-pathogen interactions. A significant reduction in the induction of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines was noted in the sera of mice infected with these mutants when compared to animals infected with wild-type (WT) A. hydrophila. After infection with the WT and act/aopB mutant, we performed microarray analyses on RNA from the above-mentioned murine macrophages and human colonic epithelial cells to examine global cellular transcriptional responses. Based on three independent experiments, WT A. hydrophila altered the expression of 434 genes in RAW 264.7 cells and 80 genes in HT-29 cells. Alteration in the expression of 209 macrophage and 32 epithelial cell genes was reduced when the act/aopB mutant was used, compared to when cells were infected with the WT bacterium, indicating the involvement of Act and/or AopB in transcriptional regulation of these genes. We verified up-regulation of 15 genes by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and confirmed A. hydrophila WT-versus mutant-induced production of cytokines/chemokines in supernatants from RAW 264.7 and HT-29 cells. This is the first description of host cell transcriptional responses to A. hydrophila infection.

Global gene expression of a murein (Braun) lipoprotein mutant of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium by microarray analysis

Braun/murein lipoprotein (Lpp) is one of the major outer membrane components of gram-negative enteric bacteria involved in inflammatory responses and septic shock. In previous studies, we reported that two copies of the lipoprotein (lpp) gene (designated as lppA and lppB) existed on the chromosome of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Deletion of both lppA and lppB genes rendered Salmonella defective in invasion, motility, induction of cytotoxicity, and production of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines. The lppAB double-knockout (DKO) mutant was attenuated in mice, and animals immunized with this mutant were protected against subsequent challenge with lethal doses of wild-type (wt) S. Typhimurium. To better understand how deletion of the lpp gene might affect Salmonella virulence, we performed global transcriptional profiling of the genes in the wt and the lppAB DKO mutant of S. Typhimurium using microarrays. Our data revealed alterations in the expression of flagellar genes, invasion-associated type III secretion system genes, and transcriptional virulence gene regulators in the lppAB DKO mutant compared to wt S. Typhimurium. These data correlated with the lppAB DKO mutant phenotype and provided possible mechanism(s) of Lpp-associated attenuation in S. Typhimurium. Although these studies were performed in in vitro grown bacteria, our future research will be targeted at global transcriptional profiling of the genes in in vivo grown wt S. Typhimurium and its Lpp mutant.

Microarray and proteomics analyses of human intestinal epithelial cells treated with the Aeromonas hydrophila cytotoxic enterotoxin

We performed microarray analyses on RNA from human intestinal epithelial (HT-29) cells treated with the cytotoxic enterotoxin (Act) of Aeromonas hydrophila to examine global cellular transcriptional responses. Based on three independent experiments, Act upregulated the expression of 34 genes involved in cell growth, adhesion, signaling, immune responses (including interleukin-8 [IL-8] production), and apoptosis. We verified the upregulation of 14 genes by real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR and confirmed Act-induced production of IL-8 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on supernatants from nonpolarized and polarized HT-29 cells. Maximal production of IL-8 in response to Act required the presence of intracellular calcium, since chelation of calcium with BAPTA-AM significantly reduced Act-induced IL-8 production in HT-29 cells. We also examined activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and, as demonstrated by Western blot analysis of apical side-treated polarized HT-29 cells, Act induced phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. In addition, KinetWorks proteomics screening of whole-cell lysates revealed Act-induced phosphorylation of cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB), c-Jun, adducin, protein kinase C, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and decreased phosphorylation of protein kinase Balpha, v-raf-1 murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1 (i.e., Raf1), and STAT1. We verified activation of CREB and activator protein 1 in polarized cells by gel shift assay. This is the first description of human intestinal epithelial cell transcriptional alterations, phosphorylation or activation of signaling molecules, cytokine production, and calcium mobilization in response to this toxin.