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Sharafutdinov I, Harrer A, Müsken M, Rottner K, Sticht H, Täger C, Naumann M, Tegtmeyer N, Backert S. Cortactin-dependent control of Par1b-regulated epithelial cell polarity in Helicobacter infection. Cell Insight 2024; 3:100161. [PMID: 38646547 PMCID: PMC11033139 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellin.2024.100161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Cell polarity is crucial for gastric mucosal barrier integrity and mainly regulated by polarity-regulating kinase partitioning-defective 1b (Par1b). During infection, the carcinogen Helicobacter pylori hijacks Par1b via the bacterial oncoprotein CagA leading to loss of cell polarity, but the precise molecular mechanism is not fully clear. Here we discovered a novel function of the actin-binding protein cortactin in regulating Par1b, which forms a complex with cortactin and the tight junction protein zona occludens-1 (ZO-1). We found that serine phosphorylation at S405/418 and the SH3 domain of cortactin are important for its interaction with both Par1b and ZO-1. Cortactin knockout cells displayed disturbed Par1b cellular localization and exhibited morphological abnormalities that largely compromised transepithelial electrical resistance, epithelial cell polarity, and apical microvilli. H. pylori infection promoted cortactin/Par1b/ZO-1 abnormal interactions in the tight junctions in a CagA-dependent manner. Infection of human gastric organoid-derived mucosoids supported these observations. We therefore hypothesize that CagA disrupts gastric epithelial cell polarity by hijacking cortactin, and thus Par1b and ZO-1, suggesting a new signaling pathway for the development of gastric cancer by Helicobacter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irshad Sharafutdinov
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Aileen Harrer
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mathias Müsken
- Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Klemens Rottner
- Department of Cell Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany
- Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, D-38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Heinrich Sticht
- Division of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Täger
- Otto von Guericke University, Institute of Experimental Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, D-39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Michael Naumann
- Otto von Guericke University, Institute of Experimental Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, D-39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany
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Sharafutdinov I, Tegtmeyer N, Rohde M, Olofsson A, Rehman ZU, Arnqvist A, Backert S. Campylobacter jejuni Surface-Bound Protease HtrA, but Not the Secreted Protease nor Protease in Shed Membrane Vesicles, Disrupts Epithelial Cell-to-Cell Junctions. Cells 2024; 13:224. [PMID: 38334616 PMCID: PMC10854787 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Fundamental functions of the intestinal epithelium include the digestion of food, absorption of nutrients, and its ability to act as the first barrier against intruding microbes. Campylobacter jejuni is a major zoonotic pathogen accounting for a substantial portion of bacterial foodborne illnesses. The germ colonizes the intestines of birds and is mainly transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated poultry meat. In the human gastrointestinal tract, the bacterium triggers campylobacteriosis that can progress to serious secondary disorders, including reactive arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and Guillain-Barré syndrome. We recently discovered that C. jejuni serine protease HtrA disrupts intestinal epithelial barrier functions via cleavage of the tight and adherens junction components occludin, claudin-8 and E-cadherin. However, it is unknown whether epithelial damage is mediated by the secreted soluble enzyme, by HtrA contained in shed outer-membrane vesicles (OMVs) or by another mechanism that has yet to be identified. In the present study, we investigated whether soluble recombinant HtrA and/or purified OMVs induce junctional damage to polarized intestinal epithelial cells compared to live C. jejuni bacteria. By using electron and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, we show that HtrA-expressing C. jejuni bacteria trigger efficient junctional cell damage, but not soluble purified HtrA or HtrA-containing OMVs, not even at high concentrations far exceeding physiological levels. Instead, we found that only bacteria with active protein biosynthesis effectively cleave junctional proteins, which is followed by paracellular transmigration of C. jejuni through the epithelial cell layer. These findings shed new light on the pathogenic activities of HtrA and virulence strategies of C. jejuni.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irshad Sharafutdinov
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Manfred Rohde
- Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstraße 7, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Annelie Olofsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Zia ur Rehman
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anna Arnqvist
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
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Sharafutdinov I, Tegtmeyer N, Linz B, Rohde M, Vieth M, Tay ACY, Lamichhane B, Tuan VP, Fauzia KA, Sticht H, Yamaoka Y, Marshall BJ, Backert S. A single-nucleotide polymorphism in Helicobacter pylori promotes gastric cancer development. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:1345-1358.e6. [PMID: 37490912 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in various human genes are key factors in carcinogenesis. However, whether SNPs in bacterial pathogens are similarly crucial in cancer development is unknown. Here, we analyzed 1,043 genomes of the stomach pathogen Helicobacter pylori and pinpointed a SNP in the serine protease HtrA (position serine/leucine 171) that significantly correlates with gastric cancer. Our functional studies reveal that the 171S-to-171L mutation triggers HtrA trimer formation and enhances proteolytic activity and cleavage of epithelial junction proteins occludin and tumor-suppressor E-cadherin. 171L-type HtrA, but not 171S-HtrA-possessing H. pylori, inflicts severe epithelial damage, enhances injection of oncoprotein CagA into epithelial cells, increases NF-κB-mediated inflammation and cell proliferation through nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, and promotes host DNA double-strand breaks, collectively triggering malignant changes. These findings highlight the 171S/L HtrA mutation as a unique bacterial cancer-associated SNP and as a potential biomarker for risk predictions in H. pylori infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irshad Sharafutdinov
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bodo Linz
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Manfred Rohde
- Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Vieth
- Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Klinikum Bayreuth, 95445 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Alfred Chin-Yen Tay
- Helicobacter Research Laboratory, Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, 6009 Perth, Australia
| | - Binit Lamichhane
- Helicobacter Research Laboratory, Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, 6009 Perth, Australia
| | - Vo Phuoc Tuan
- Department of Endoscopy, Choray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; Department of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Yufu, Oita, Japan
| | - Kartika Afrida Fauzia
- Department of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Yufu, Oita, Japan; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Heinrich Sticht
- Division of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yoshio Yamaoka
- Department of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Yufu, Oita, Japan; Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Barry J Marshall
- Helicobacter Research Laboratory, Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, 6009 Perth, Australia; University of Western Australia, Marshall Centre, M504, Crawley, WA, Australia; Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Steffen Backert
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
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Linz B, Sharafutdinov I, Tegtmeyer N, Backert S. Evolution and Role of Proteases in Campylobacter jejuni Lifestyle and Pathogenesis. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020323. [PMID: 36830692 PMCID: PMC9953165 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with the main human food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni causes campylobacteriosis that accounts for a substantial percentage of gastrointestinal infections. The disease usually manifests as diarrhea that lasts for up to two weeks. C. jejuni possesses an array of peptidases and proteases that are critical for its lifestyle and pathogenesis. These include serine proteases Cj1365c, Cj0511 and HtrA; AAA+ group proteases ClpP, Lon and FtsH; and zinc-dependent protease PqqE, proline aminopeptidase PepP, oligopeptidase PepF and peptidase C26. Here, we review the numerous critical roles of these peptide bond-dissolving enzymes in cellular processes of C. jejuni that include protein quality control; protein transport across the inner and outer membranes into the periplasm, cell surface or extracellular space; acquisition of amino acids and biofilm formation and dispersal. In addition, we highlight their role as virulence factors that inflict intestinal tissue damage by promoting cell invasion and mediating cleavage of crucial host cell factors such as epithelial cell junction proteins. Furthermore, we reconstruct the evolution of these proteases in 34 species of the Campylobacter genus. Finally, we discuss to what extent C. jejuni proteases have initiated the search for inhibitor compounds as prospective novel anti-bacterial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bodo Linz
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)-9131-8528988
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Naumann M, Ferino L, Sharafutdinov I, Backert S. Gastric Epithelial Barrier Disruption, Inflammation and Oncogenic Signal Transduction by Helicobacter pylori. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2023; 444:207-238. [PMID: 38231220 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47331-9_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori exemplifies one of the most favourable bacterial pathogens worldwide. The bacterium colonizes the gastric mucosa in about half of the human population and constitutes a major risk factor for triggering gastric diseases such as stomach cancer. H. pylori infection represents a prime example of chronic inflammation and cancer-inducing bacterial pathogens. The microbe utilizes a remarkable set of virulence factors and strategies to control cellular checkpoints of inflammation and oncogenic signal transduction. This chapter emphasizes on the pathogenicity determinants of H. pylori such as the cytotoxin-associated genes pathogenicity island (cagPAI)-encoded type-IV secretion system (T4SS), effector protein CagA, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) metabolite ADP-glycero-β-D-manno-heptose (ADP-heptose), cytotoxin VacA, serine protease HtrA, and urease, and how they manipulate various key host cell signaling networks in the gastric epithelium. In particular, we highlight the H. pylori-induced disruption of cell-to-cell junctions, pro-inflammatory activities, as well as proliferative, pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic responses. Here we review these hijacked signal transduction events and their impact on gastric disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Naumann
- Institute of Experimental Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, Otto Von Guericke University, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Lorena Ferino
- Institute of Experimental Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, Otto Von Guericke University, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Irshad Sharafutdinov
- Dept. Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Dept. Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
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Sharafutdinov I, Knorr J, Rottner K, Backert S, Tegtmeyer N. Cortactin: A universal host cytoskeletal target of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. Mol Microbiol 2022; 118:623-636. [PMID: 36396951 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic bacteria possess a great potential of causing infectious diseases and represent a serious threat to human and animal health. Understanding the molecular basis of infection development can provide new valuable strategies for disease prevention and better control. In host-pathogen interactions, actin-cytoskeletal dynamics play a crucial role in the successful adherence, invasion, and intracellular motility of many intruding microbial pathogens. Cortactin, a major cellular factor that promotes actin polymerization and other functions, appears as a central regulator of host-pathogen interactions and different human diseases including cancer development. Various important microbes have been reported to hijack cortactin signaling during infection. The primary regulation of cortactin appears to proceed via serine and/or tyrosine phosphorylation events by upstream kinases, acetylation, and interaction with various other host proteins, including the Arp2/3 complex, filamentous actin, the actin nucleation promoting factor N-WASP, focal adhesion kinase FAK, the large GTPase dynamin-2, the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Vav2, and the actin-stabilizing protein CD2AP. Given that many signaling factors can affect cortactin activities, several microbes target certain unique pathways, while also sharing some common features. Here we review our current knowledge of the hallmarks of cortactin as a major target for eminent Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial pathogens in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irshad Sharafutdinov
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jakob Knorr
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Klemens Rottner
- Department of Cell Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.,Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Sharafutdinov I, Ekici A, Vieth M, Backert S, Linz B. Early and late genome-wide gastric epithelial transcriptome response during infection with the human carcinogen Helicobacterpylori. Cell Insight 2022; 1:100032. [PMID: 37193047 PMCID: PMC10120309 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellin.2022.100032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Infection of the stomach by Helicobacter pylori is a major risk factor for the development of gastric cancer. Colonization of the gastric epithelium leads to the activation of multiple disease-related signaling pathways. Serine protease HtrA represents an important secreted virulence factor that mediates cleavage of cellular junctions. However, its potential role in nuclear responses is unknown. Here, we performed a genome-wide RNA-seq analysis of polarized gastric epithelial cells infected by wild-type (wt) and ΔhtrA mutant bacteria. Fluorescence microscopy showed that H. pylori wt, but not ΔhtrA bacteria, preferably localized at cellular junctions. Our results pinpointed early (2 h) and late (6 h) transcriptional responses, with most differentially expressed genes at 6 h post infection. The transcriptomes revealed HtrA-dependent targeting of genes associated with inflammation and apoptosis (e.g. IL8, ZFP36, TNF). Accordingly, infection with the ΔhtrA mutant induced increased apoptosis rates in host cells, which was associated with reduced H. pylori CagA expression. In contrast, transcription of various carcinogenesis-associated genes (e.g. DKK1, DOCK8) was affected by H. pylori independent of HtrA. These findings suggest that H. pylori disturbs previously unknown molecular pathways in an HtrA-dependent and HtrA-independent manner, and provide valuable new insights of this significant pathogen in humans and thus potential targets for better controlling the risk of malignant transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irshad Sharafutdinov
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arif Ekici
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 10, D-91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Vieth
- Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Klinikum Bayreuth, Preuschwitzer Str 101, D-95445, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bodo Linz
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany
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Tegtmeyer N, Soltan Esmaeili D, Sharafutdinov I, Knorr J, Naumann M, Alter T, Backert S. Importance of cortactin for efficient epithelial NF-ĸB activation by Helicobacter pylori, Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but not Campylobacter spp. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2022; 11:95-103. [PMID: 35060920 PMCID: PMC8830411 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2021.00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Transcription factors of the nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells (NF-ĸB) family control important signaling pathways in the regulation of the host innate immune system. Various bacterial pathogens in the human gastrointestinal tract induce NF-ĸB activity and provoke pro-inflammatory signaling events in infected epithelial cells. NF-ĸB activation requires the phosphorylation-dependent proteolysis of inhibitor of ĸB (IĸB) molecules including the NF-ĸB precursors through ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. The canonical NF-ĸB pathway merges on IĸB kinases (IKKs), which are required for signal transduction. Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter assays and cytokine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we demonstrate that the actin-binding protein cortactin is involved in NF-ĸB activation and subsequent interleukin-8 (IL-8) production upon infection by Helicobacter pylori, Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Our data indicate that cortactin is needed to efficiently activate the c-Sarcoma (Src) kinase, which can positively stimulate NF-ĸB during infection. In contrast, cortactin is not involved in activation of NF-ĸB and IL-8 expression upon infection with Campylobacter species C. jejuni, C. coli or C. consisus, suggesting that Campylobacter species pluralis (spp.) induce a different signaling pathway upstream of cortactin to trigger the innate immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Delara Soltan Esmaeili
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Irshad Sharafutdinov
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Jakob Knorr
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Michael Naumann
- Institute of Experimental Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Alter
- Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Centre for Veterinary Public Health, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
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Sharafutdinov I, Backert S, Tegtmeyer N. The Helicobacter pylori type IV secretion system upregulates epithelial cortactin expression by a CagA- and JNK-dependent pathway. Cell Microbiol 2021; 23:e13376. [PMID: 34197673 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cortactin represents an important actin-binding factor, which controls actin-cytoskeletal remodelling in host cells. In this way, cortactin has been shown to exhibit crucial functions both for cell movement and tumour cell invasion. In addition, the cortactin gene cttn is amplified in various cancer types of humans. Helicobacter pylori is the causative agent of multiple gastric diseases and represents a significant risk factor for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. It has been repeatedly shown that H. pylori manipulates cancer-related signal transduction events in infected gastric epithelial cells such as the phosphorylation status of cortactin. In fact, H. pylori modifies the activity of cortactin's binding partners to stimulate changes in the actin-cytoskeleton, cell adhesion and motility. Here we show that H. pylori infection of cultured AGS and Caco-2 cells for 24-48 hr leads to the overexpression of cortactin by 2-3 fold at the protein level. We demonstrate that this activity requires the integrity of the type IV secretion system (T4SS) encoded by the cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI) as well as the translocated effector protein CagA. We further show that ectopic expression of CagA is sufficient to stimulate cortactin overexpression. Furthermore, phosphorylation of CagA at the EPIYA-repeat region is not required, suggesting that this CagA activity proceeds in a phosphorylation-independent fashion. Inhibitor studies further demonstrate that the involved signalling pathway comprises the mitogen-activated protein kinase JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), but not ERK1/2 or p38. Taken together, using H. pylori as a model system, this study discovered a previously unrecognised cortactin activation cascade by a microbial pathogen. We suggest that H. pylori targets cortactin to manipulate the cellular architecture and epithelial barrier functions that can impact gastric cancer development. TAKE AWAYS: Helicobacter pylori infection induces overexpression of cortactin at the protein level Cortactin upregulation requires the T4SS and effector protein CagA Ectopic expression of CagA is sufficient to stimulate cortactin overexpression Overexpression of cortactin proceeds CagA phosphorylation-independent The involved host cell signalling pathway comprises the MAP kinase JNK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irshad Sharafutdinov
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, 91058, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, 91058, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, 91058, Germany
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Knorr J, Sharafutdinov I, Fiedler F, Soltan Esmaeili D, Rohde M, Rottner K, Backert S, Tegtmeyer N. Cortactin Is Required for Efficient FAK, Src and Abl Tyrosine Kinase Activation and Phosphorylation of Helicobacter pylori CagA. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22116045. [PMID: 34205064 PMCID: PMC8199859 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortactin is a well-known regulatory protein of the host actin cytoskeleton and represents an attractive target of microbial pathogens like Helicobacter pylori. H. pylori manipulates cortactin's phosphorylation status by type-IV secretion-dependent injection of its virulence protein CagA. Multiple host tyrosine kinases, like FAK, Src, and Abl, are activated during infection, but the pathway(s) involved is (are) not yet fully established. Among them, Src and Abl target CagA and stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of the latter at its EPIYA-motifs. To investigate the role of cortactin in more detail, we generated a CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of cortactin in AGS gastric epithelial cells. Surprisingly, we found that FAK, Src, and Abl kinase activities were dramatically downregulated associated with widely diminished CagA phosphorylation in cortactin knockout cells compared to the parental control. Together, we report here a yet unrecognized cortactin-dependent signaling pathway involving FAK, Src, and Abl activation, and controlling efficient phosphorylation of injected CagA during infection. Thus, the cortactin status could serve as a potential new biomarker of gastric cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Knorr
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany; (J.K.); (I.S.); (F.F.); (D.S.E.); (S.B.)
| | - Irshad Sharafutdinov
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany; (J.K.); (I.S.); (F.F.); (D.S.E.); (S.B.)
| | - Florian Fiedler
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany; (J.K.); (I.S.); (F.F.); (D.S.E.); (S.B.)
| | - Delara Soltan Esmaeili
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany; (J.K.); (I.S.); (F.F.); (D.S.E.); (S.B.)
| | - Manfred Rohde
- Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany;
| | - Klemens Rottner
- Department of Cell Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany;
- Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany; (J.K.); (I.S.); (F.F.); (D.S.E.); (S.B.)
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany; (J.K.); (I.S.); (F.F.); (D.S.E.); (S.B.)
- Correspondence:
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Sharafutdinov I, Esmaeili DS, Harrer A, Tegtmeyer N, Sticht H, Backert S. Campylobacter jejuni Serine Protease HtrA Cleaves the Tight Junction Component Claudin-8. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:590186. [PMID: 33364202 PMCID: PMC7752809 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.590186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni express the high temperature requirement protein A (HtrA), a secreted serine protease, which is implicated in virulence properties of the pathogen. Previous studies have shown that C. jejuni HtrA can cleave the epithelial transmembrane proteins occludin and E-cadherin in the tight and adherens junctions, respectively. In the present report, we studied the interaction of HtrA with another human tight junction protein, claudin-8. Confocal immunofluorescence experiments have shown that C. jejuni infection of the intestinal polarized epithelial cells in vitro leads to a relocation of claudin-8. Wild-type C. jejuni induced the downregulation of claudin-8 signals in the tight junctions and an accumulation of claudin-8 agglomerates in the cytoplasm, which were not seen during infection with isogenic ΔhtrA knockout deletion or protease-inactive S197A point mutants. Western blotting of protein samples from infected vs. uninfected cells revealed that an 18-kDa carboxy-terminal fragment is cleaved-off from the 26-kDa full-length claudin-8 protein, but not during infection with the isogenic ΔhtrA mutant. These results were confirmed by in vitro cleavage assays using the purified recombinant C. jejuni HtrA and human claudin-8 proteins. Recombinant HtrA cleaved purified claudin-8 in vitro giving rise to the same 18-kDa sized carboxy-terminal cleavage product. Mapping studies revealed that HtrA cleavage occurs in the first extracellular loop of claudin-8. Three-dimensional modeling of the claudin-8 structure identified an exposed HtrA cleavage site between the amino acids alanine 58 and asparagine 59, which is in well agreement with the mapping studies. Taken together, HtrA operates as a secreted virulence factor targeting multiple proteins both in the tight and adherens junctions. This strategy may help the bacteria to open the cell-to-cell junctions, and to transmigrate across the intestinal epithelium by a paracellular mechanism and establish an acute infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irshad Sharafutdinov
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Delara Soltan Esmaeili
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Aileen Harrer
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Heinrich Sticht
- Division of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Sharafutdinov I, Backert S, Tegtmeyer N. Cortactin: A Major Cellular Target of the Gastric Carcinogen Helicobacter pylori. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E159. [PMID: 31936446 PMCID: PMC7017262 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12010159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortactin is an actin binding protein and actin nucleation promoting factor regulating cytoskeletal rearrangements in nearly all eukaryotic cell types. From this perspective, cortactin poses an attractive target for pathogens to manipulate a given host cell to their own benefit. One of the pathogens following this strategy is Helicobacter pylori, which can cause a variety of gastric diseases and has been shown to be the major risk factor for the onset of gastric cancer. During infection of gastric epithelial cells, H. pylori hijacks the cellular kinase signaling pathways, leading to the disruption of key cell functions. Specifically, by overruling the phosphorylation status of cortactin, H. pylori alternates the activity of molecular interaction partners of this important protein, thereby manipulating the performance of actin-cytoskeletal rearrangements and cell movement. In addition, H. pylori utilizes a unique mechanism to activate focal adhesion kinase, which subsequently prevents host epithelial cells from extensive lifting from the extracellular matrix in order to achieve chronic infection in the human stomach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany; (I.S.); (S.B.)
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Pavlova A, Sharafutdinov I, Dobrev D, Stratiev D, Shishkova I, Mitkova M, Rudnev N. Determination of Benzene and Oxygenates in Petroleum by Heart-Cutting Gas Chromatography. ANAL LETT 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/00032719.2015.1130712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Kustova E, Nagnibeda E, Oblapenko G, Savelev A, Sharafutdinov I. Advanced models for vibrational–chemical coupling in multi-temperature flows. Chem Phys 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2015.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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