Formyl-Peptide Receptor Agonists and Amorphous SiO2-NPs Synergistically and Selectively Increase the Inflammatory Responses of Human Monocytes and PMNs

Bacteriocin BacSp222 and Its Succinylated Forms Exhibit Proinflammatory Activities Toward Innate Immune Cells

Purpose

The zoonotic opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus pseudintermedius 222 produces BacSp222 - an atypical peptide exhibiting the features of a bacteriocin, a virulence factor, and a molecule modulating the host inflammatory reaction. The peptide is secreted in an unmodified form and, additionally, two forms modified posttranslationally by succinylation. This study is a comprehensive report focusing on the proinflammatory properties of such molecules.

Methods

The study was performed on mouse monocyte/macrophage-like and endothelial cell lines as well as human neutrophils. The following peptides were studied: BacSp222, its succinylated forms, the form deprived of formylated methionine, and a reference bacteriocin - nisin. The measurements of the nitric oxide (NO) level, induced NO synthase (iNOS) expression, the profile of secreted cytokines, NF-kappa-B activation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) biosynthesis, and the formation of extracellular traps were conducted to evaluate the proinflammatory activity of the studied peptides.

Results

BacSp222 and its succinylated forms effectively induced NO production and iNOS expression when combined with IFN-gamma in macrophage-like cells. All natural BacSp222 forms used alone or with IFN-gamma stimulated the production of TNF-alpha, MCP-1, and IL-1-alpha, while the co-stimulation with IFN-gamma increased IL-10 and IL-27. Upregulated TNF-alpha secretion observed after BacSp222 exposition resulted from increased expression but not from membrane TNF-alpha proteolysis. In neutrophils, all forms of bacteriocin upregulated IL-8, but did not induce ROS production or NETs formation. In all experiments, the activities of deformylated bacteriocin were lower or unequivocal in comparison to other forms of the peptide.

Conclusion

All naturally secreted forms of BacSp222 exhibit proinflammatory activity against monocyte-macrophage cells and neutrophils, confirming that the biological role of BacSp222 goes beyond bactericidal and cytotoxic effects. The atypical posttranslational modification (succinylation) does not diminish its immunomodulatory activity in contrast to the lower antibacterial potential or cytotoxicity of such modified form established in previous studies.

Chemotactic Ligands that Activate G-Protein-Coupled Formylpeptide Receptors

Leukocyte infiltration is a hallmark of inflammatory responses. This process depends on the bacterial and host tissue-derived chemotactic factors interacting with G-protein-coupled seven-transmembrane receptors (GPCRs) expressed on the cell surface. Formylpeptide receptors (FPRs in human and Fprs in mice) belong to the family of chemoattractant GPCRs that are critical mediators of myeloid cell trafficking in microbial infection, inflammation, immune responses and cancer progression. Both murine Fprs and human FPRs participate in many patho-physiological processes due to their expression on a variety of cell types in addition to myeloid cells. FPR contribution to numerous pathologies is in part due to its capacity to interact with a plethora of structurally diverse chemotactic ligands. One of the murine Fpr members, Fpr2, and its endogenous agonist peptide, Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP), control normal mouse colon epithelial growth, repair and protection against inflammation-associated tumorigenesis. Recent developments in FPR (Fpr) and ligand studies have greatly expanded the scope of these receptors and ligands in host homeostasis and disease conditions, therefore helping to establish these molecules as potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Combined Action of Human Commensal Bacteria and Amorphous Silica Nanoparticles on the Viability and Immune Responses of Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) regulate the host-microbe balance in the gut and skin, tissues likely exposed to nanoparticles (NPs) present in drugs, food, and cosmetics. We analyzed the viability and the activation of DCs incubated with extracellular media (EMs) obtained from cultures of commensal bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis) or pathogenic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus) in the presence of amorphous silica nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs). EMs and NPs synergistically increased the levels of cytotoxicity and cytokine production, with different nanoparticle dose-response characteristics being found, depending on the bacterial species. E. coli and S. epidermidis EMs plus NPs at nontoxic doses stimulated the secretion of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-12, IL-10, and IL-6, while E. coli and S. epidermidis EMs plus NPs at toxic doses stimulated the secretion of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-4, and IL-5. On the contrary, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa EMs induced cytokines only when they were combined with NPs at toxic concentrations. The induction of maturation markers (CD86, CD80, CD83, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and major histocompatibility complex class II) by commensal bacteria but not by pathogenic ones was improved in the presence of noncytotoxic SiO₂ NP doses. DCs consistently supported the proliferation and differentiation of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells secreting IFN-γ and IL-17A. The synergistic induction of CD86 was due to nonprotein molecules present in the EMs from all bacteria tested. At variance with this finding, the synergistic induction of IL-1β was prevalently mediated by proteins in the case of E. coli EMs and by nonproteins in the case of S. epidermidis EMs. A bacterial costimulus did not act on DCs after adsorption on SiO₂ NPs but rather acted as an independent agonist. The inflammatory and immune actions of DCs stimulated by commensal bacterial agonists might be altered by the simultaneous exposure to engineered or environmental NPs.