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Billman ZP, Kovacs SB, Wei B, Kang K, Cissé OH, Miao EA. Caspase-1 activates gasdermin A in non-mammals. eLife 2024; 12:RP92362. [PMID: 38497531 PMCID: PMC10948149 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92362] [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] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Gasdermins oligomerize to form pores in the cell membrane, causing regulated lytic cell death called pyroptosis. Mammals encode five gasdermins that can trigger pyroptosis: GSDMA, B, C, D, and E. Caspase and granzyme proteases cleave the linker regions of and activate GSDMB, C, D, and E, but no endogenous activation pathways are yet known for GSDMA. Here, we perform a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the gasdermin family. A gene duplication of GSDMA in the common ancestor of caecilian amphibians, reptiles, and birds gave rise to GSDMA-D in mammals. Uniquely in our tree, amphibian, reptile, and bird GSDMA group in a separate clade than mammal GSDMA. Remarkably, GSDMA in numerous bird species contain caspase-1 cleavage sites like YVAD or FASD in the linker. We show that GSDMA from birds, amphibians, and reptiles are all cleaved by caspase-1. Thus, GSDMA was originally cleaved by the host-encoded protease caspase-1. In mammals the caspase-1 cleavage site in GSDMA is disrupted; instead, a new protein, GSDMD, is the target of caspase-1. Mammal caspase-1 uses exosite interactions with the GSDMD C-terminal domain to confer the specificity of this interaction, whereas we show that bird caspase-1 uses a stereotypical tetrapeptide sequence to confer specificity for bird GSDMA. Our results reveal an evolutionarily stable association between caspase-1 and the gasdermin family, albeit a shifting one. Caspase-1 repeatedly changes its target gasdermin over evolutionary time at speciation junctures, initially cleaving GSDME in fish, then GSDMA in amphibians/reptiles/birds, and finally GSDMD in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Paul Billman
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Pathology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamUnited States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillUnited States
| | - Stephen Bela Kovacs
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Pathology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamUnited States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillUnited States
| | - Bo Wei
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Pathology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamUnited States
| | - Kidong Kang
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Pathology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamUnited States
| | - Ousmane H Cissé
- Critical Care Medicine Department, National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterBethesdaUnited States
| | - Edward A Miao
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Pathology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamUnited States
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2
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Rasooly R, Do P, He X, Hernlem B. Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B is a superantigen that induces murine splenocyte proliferation and secretion of IL-2 and IFN-γ ex vivo. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2024; 371:fnae036. [PMID: 38806245 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnae036] [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: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is a significant human pathogen, producing a range of virulence factors, including streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B (SpeB) that is associated with foodborne outbreaks. It was only known that this cysteine protease mediates cleavage of transmembrane proteins to permit bacterial penetration and is found in 25% of clinical isolates from streptococcal toxic shock syndrome patients with extreme inflammation. Its interaction with host and streptococcal proteins has been well characterized, but doubt remains about whether it constitutes a superantigen. In this study, for the first time it is shown that SpeB acts as a superantigen, similarly to other known superantigens such as staphylococcal enterotoxin A or streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin type C, by inducing proliferation of murine splenocytes and cytokine secretion, primarily of interleukin-2 (IL-2), as shown by cytometric bead array analysis. IL-2 secretion was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as well as secretion of interferon-γ. ELISA showed a dose-dependent relationship between SpeB concentration in splenocyte cells and IL-2 secretion levels, and it was shown that SpeB retains activity in milk pasteurized for 30 min at 63°C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reuven Rasooly
- Foodborne Toxin Detection & Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, United States
| | - Paula Do
- Foodborne Toxin Detection & Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, United States
| | - Xiaohua He
- Foodborne Toxin Detection & Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, United States
| | - Bradley Hernlem
- Foodborne Toxin Detection & Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, United States
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Billman ZP, Kovacs SB, Wei B, Kang K, Cissé OH, Miao EA. Caspase-1 activates gasdermin A in non-mammals. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.28.559989. [PMID: 37987010 PMCID: PMC10659411 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.28.559989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Gasdermins oligomerize to form pores in the cell membrane, causing regulated lytic cell death called pyroptosis. Mammals encode five gasdermins that can trigger pyroptosis: GSDMA, B, C, D, and E. Caspase and granzyme proteases cleave the linker regions of and activate GSDMB, C, D, and E, but no endogenous activation pathways are yet known for GSDMA. Here, we perform a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the gasdermin family. A gene duplication of GSDMA in the common ancestor of caecilian amphibians, reptiles and birds gave rise to GSDMA-D in mammals. Uniquely in our tree, amphibian, reptile and bird GSDMA group in a separate clade than mammal GSDMA. Remarkably, GSDMA in numerous bird species contain caspase-1 cleavage sites like YVAD or FASD in the linker. We show that GSDMA from birds, amphibians, and reptiles are all cleaved by caspase-1. Thus, GSDMA was originally cleaved by the host-encoded protease caspase-1. In mammals the caspase-1 cleavage site in GSDMA is disrupted; instead, a new protein, GSDMD, is the target of caspase-1. Mammal caspase-1 uses exosite interactions with the GSDMD C-terminal domain to confer the specificity of this interaction, whereas we show that bird caspase-1 uses a stereotypical tetrapeptide sequence to confer specificity for bird GSDMA. Our results reveal an evolutionarily stable association between caspase-1 and the gasdermin family, albeit a shifting one. Caspase-1 repeatedly changes its target gasdermin over evolutionary time at speciation junctures, initially cleaving GSDME in fish, then GSDMA in amphibians/reptiles/birds, and finally GSDMD in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary P Billman
- Duke University School of Medicine
- National Institutes of Health University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Departments of: Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Cell Biology; Pathology; Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Stephen B Kovacs
- Duke University School of Medicine
- National Institutes of Health University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Departments of: Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Cell Biology; Pathology; Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Bo Wei
- Duke University School of Medicine
- Departments of: Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Cell Biology; Pathology; Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kidong Kang
- Duke University School of Medicine
- Departments of: Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Cell Biology; Pathology; Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ousmane H Cissé
- National Institutes of Health
- Critical Care Medicine Department; Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Edward A Miao
- Duke University School of Medicine
- National Institutes of Health University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Departments of: Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Cell Biology; Pathology; Durham, NC, USA
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Cadena C, Kornfeld OS, Lee BL, Kayagaki N. Epigenetic and transcriptional control of gasdermins. Semin Immunol 2023; 70:101841. [PMID: 37703611 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Cells undergo an inflammatory programmed lytic cell death called 'pyroptosis' (with the Greek roots 'fiery'), often featuring morphological hallmarks such as large ballooning protrusions and subsequent bursting. Originally described as a caspase-1-dependent cell death in response to bacterial infection, pyroptosis has since been re-defined in 2018 as a cell death dependent on plasma membrane pores by a gasdermin (GSDM) family member [1,2]. GSDMs form pores in the plasma membrane as well as organelle membranes, thereby initiating membrane destruction and the rapid and lytic demise of a cell. The gasdermin family plays a profound role in the execution of pyroptosis in the context of infection, inflammation, tumor pathogenesis, and anti-tumor therapy. More recently, cell-death-independent functions for some of the GSDMs have been proposed. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of gasdermin gene regulation, including mechanisms in both homeostatic conditions and during inflammation, is essential. In this review, we will summarize the role of gasdermins in pyroptosis and focus our discussion on the transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms controlling the expression of GSDMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristhian Cadena
- Physiological Chemistry Department, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Opher S Kornfeld
- Physiological Chemistry Department, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Bettina L Lee
- Physiological Chemistry Department, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Nobuhiko Kayagaki
- Physiological Chemistry Department, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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Wang J, Ma C, Li M, Gao X, Wu H, Dong W, Wei L. Streptococcus pyogenes: Pathogenesis and the Current Status of Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1510. [PMID: 37766186 PMCID: PMC10534548 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11091510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus; GAS), a Gram-positive coccal bacterium, poses a significant global disease burden, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Its manifestations can range from pharyngitis and skin infection to severe and aggressive diseases, such as necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. At present, although GAS is still sensitive to penicillin, there are cases of treatment failure for GAS pharyngitis, and antibiotic therapy does not universally prevent subsequent disease. In addition to strengthening global molecular epidemiological surveillance and monitoring of antibiotic resistance, developing a safe and effective licensed vaccine against GAS would be the most effective way to broadly address GAS-related diseases. Over the past decades, the development of GAS vaccines has been stalled, mainly because of the wide genetic heterogeneity of GAS and the diverse autoimmune responses to GAS. With outbreaks of scarlet fever in various countries in recent years, accelerating the development of a safe and effective vaccine remains a high priority. When developing a GAS vaccine, many factors need to be considered, including the selection of antigen epitopes, avoidance of self-response, and vaccine coverage. Given the challenges in GAS vaccine development, this review describes the important virulence factors that induce disease by GAS infection and how this has influenced the progression of vaccine development efforts, focusing on several candidate vaccines that are further along in development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Lin Wei
- Key Laboratory of Immune Mechanism and Intervention on Serious Disease in Hebei Province, Department of Immunology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
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6
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Troese MJ, Burlet E, Cunningham MW, Alvarez K, Bentley R, Thomas N, Carwell S, Morefield GL. Group A Streptococcus Vaccine Targeting the Erythrogenic Toxins SpeA and SpeB Is Safe and Immunogenic in Rabbits and Does Not Induce Antibodies Associated with Autoimmunity. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1504. [PMID: 37766180 PMCID: PMC10534881 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11091504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a global pathogen associated with significant morbidity and mortality for which there is currently no licensed vaccine. Vaccine development has been slow, mostly due to safety concerns regarding streptococcal antigens associated with autoimmunity and related complications. For a GAS vaccine to be safe, it must be ensured that the antigens used in the vaccine do not elicit an antibody response that can cross-react with host tissues. In this study, we evaluated the safety of our GAS vaccine candidate called VaxiStrep in New Zealand White rabbits. VaxiStrep is a recombinant fusion protein comprised of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SpeA) and exotoxin B (SpeB), also known as erythrogenic toxins, adsorbed to an aluminum adjuvant. The vaccine elicited a robust immune response against the two toxins in the rabbits without any adverse events or toxicity. No signs of autoimmune pathology were detected in the rabbits' brains, hearts, and kidneys via immunohistochemistry, and serum antibodies did not cross-react with cardiac or neuronal tissue proteins associated with rheumatic heart disease or Sydenham chorea (SC). This study further confirms that VaxiStrep does not elicit autoantibodies and is safe to be tested in a first-in-human trial.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Madeleine W. Cunningham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Kathy Alvarez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Rebecca Bentley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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Johnson AF, Sands JS, Trivedi KM, Russell R, LaRock DL, LaRock CN. Constitutive secretion of pro-IL-18 allows keratinocytes to initiate inflammation during bacterial infection. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011321. [PMID: 37068092 PMCID: PMC10138833 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS, Streptococcus pyogenes) is a professional human pathogen that commonly infects the skin. Keratinocytes are one of the first cells to contact GAS, and by inducing inflammation, they can initiate the earliest immune responses to pathogen invasion. Here, we characterized the proinflammatory cytokine repertoire produced by primary human keratinocytes and surrogate cell lines commonly used in vitro. Infection induces several cytokines and chemokines, but keratinocytes constitutively secrete IL-18 in a form that is inert (pro-IL-18) and lacks proinflammatory activity. Canonically, IL-18 activation and secretion are coupled through a single proteolytic event that is regulated intracellularly by the inflammasome protease caspase-1 in myeloid cells. The pool of extracellular pro-IL-18 generated by keratinocytes is poised to sense extracellular proteases. It is directly processed into a mature active form by SpeB, a secreted GAS protease that is a critical virulent factor during skin infection. This mechanism contributes to the proinflammatory response against GAS, resulting in T cell activation and the secretion of IFN-γ. Under these conditions, isolates of several other major bacterial pathogens and microbiota of the skin were found to not have significant IL-18-maturing ability. These results suggest keratinocyte-secreted IL-18 is a sentinel that sounds an early alarm that is highly sensitive to GAS, yet tolerant to non-invasive members of the microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders F Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Medicine, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jenna S Sands
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Medicine, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Keya M Trivedi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Medicine, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Raedeen Russell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Medicine, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Doris L LaRock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Medicine, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Christopher N LaRock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Medicine, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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An Introduction to Bacterial Biofilms and Their Proteases, and Their Roles in Host Infection and Immune Evasion. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12020306. [PMID: 35204806 PMCID: PMC8869686 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms represent multicellular communities embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances, conveying increased resistance against environmental stress factors but also antibiotics. They are shaped by secreted enzymes such as proteases, which can aid pathogenicity by degrading host proteins of the connective tissue or the immune system. Importantly, both secreted proteases and the capability of biofilm formation are considered key virulence factors. In this review, we focus on the basic aspects of proteolysis and protein secretion, and highlight various secreted bacterial proteases involved in biofilm establishment and dispersal, and how they aid bacteria in immune evasion by degrading immunoglobulins and components of the complement system. Thus, secreted proteases represent not only prominent antimicrobial targets but also enzymes that can be used for dedicated applications in biotechnology and biomedicine, including their use as laundry detergents, in mass spectrometry for the glycoprofiling of antibodies, and the desensitization of donor organs intended for positive crossmatch patients.
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