| 1. |
- Chen, Yao, et al.
(författare)
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Thyroid hormone enhances nitric oxide mediated bacterial clearance and promotes survival after meningococcal infection
- 2012
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 7:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Euthyroid sick syndrome characterized by reduced levels of thyroid hormones (THs) is observed in patients with meningococcal shock. It has been found that the level of THs reflects disease severity and is predictive for mortality. The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of THs on host defense during meningococcal infection. We found that supplementation of thyroxine to mice infected with Neisseria meningitidis enhanced bacterial clearance, attenuated the inflammatory responses and promoted survival. In vitro studies with macrophages revealed that THs enhanced bacteria-cell interaction and intracellular killing of meningococci by stimulating inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNos)-mediated NO production. TH treatment did not activate expression of TH receptors in macrophages. Instead, the observed TH-directed actions were mediated through nongenomic pathways involving the protein kinases PI3K and ERK1/2 and initiated at the membrane receptor integrin alpha v beta 3. Inhibition of nongenomic TH signaling prevented iNos induction, NO production and subsequent intracellular bacterial killing by macrophages. These data demonstrate a beneficial role of THs in macrophage-mediated N. meningitidis clearance. TH replacement might be a novel option to control meningococcal septicemia.
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| 2. |
- Liu, Yan, et al.
(författare)
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Dynamic niche-specific adaptations in Neisseria meningitidis during infection
- 2016
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Ingår i: Microbes and infection. - : Elsevier BV. - 1286-4579 .- 1769-714X. ; 18:2, s. 109-117
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neisseria meningitidis is an opportunistic human pathogen that usually colonizes the nasopharyngeal mucosa asymptomatically. Upon invasion into the blood and central nervous system, this bacterium triggers a fulminant inflammatory reaction with the manifestations of septicemia and meningitis, causing high morbidity and mortality. To reveal the bacterial adaptations to specific and dynamic host environments, we performed a comprehensive proteomic survey of N. meningitidis isolated from the nasal mucosa, CSF and blood of a mouse disease model. We could identify 51 proteins whose expression pattern has been changed during infection, many of which have not yet been characterized. The abundance of proteins was markedly lower in the bacteria isolated from the nasal mucosa compared to the bacteria from the blood and CSF, indicating that initiating adhesion is the harshest challenge for meningococci. The high abundance of the glutamate dehydrogenase (GdhA) and Opa1800 proteins in all bacterial isolates suggests their essential role in bacterial survival in vivo. To evaluate the biological relevance of our proteomic findings, four candidate proteins from representative functional groups, such as the bacterial chaperone GroEL, IMP dehydrogenase GuaB, and membrane proteins PilQ and NMC0101, were selected and their impact on bacterial fitness was investigated by mutagenesis assays. This study provides an integrated picture of bacterial niche-specific adaptations during consecutive infection processes.
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| 3. |
- Sjölinder, Mikael, et al.
(författare)
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Meningococcal Outer Membrane Protein NhhA Triggers Apoptosis in Macrophages.
- 2012
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Ingår i: PloS one. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 7:1, s. e29586-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Phagocytotic cells play a fundamental role in the defense against bacterial pathogens. One mechanism whereby bacteria evade phagocytosis is to produce factors that trigger apoptosis. Here we identify for the first time a meningococcal protein capable of inducing macrophage apoptosis. The conserved meningococcal outer membrane protein NhhA (Neisseria hia/hsf homologue A, also known as Hsf) mediates bacterial adhesion and interacts with extracellular matrix components heparan sulphate and laminin. Meningococci lacking NhhA fail to colonise nasal mucosa in a mouse model of meningococcal disease. We found that exposure of macrophages to NhhA resulted in a highly increased rate of apoptosis that proceeded through caspase activation. Exposure of macrophages to NhhA also led to iNOS induction and nitric oxide production. However, neither nitric oxide production nor TNF-α signaling was found to be a prerequisite for NhhA-induced apoptosis. Macrophages exposed to wildtype NhhA-expressing meningococci were also found to undergo apoptosis whereas NhhA-deficient meningococci had a markedly decreased capacity to induce macrophage apoptosis. These data provide new insights on the role of NhhA in meningococcal disease. NhhA-induced macrophage apoptosis could be a mechanism whereby meningococci evade immunoregulatory and phagocytotic actions of macrophages.
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| 4. |
- Sjölinder, Mikael, et al.
(författare)
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The Meningococcal Adhesin NhhA Provokes Proinflammatory Responses in Macrophages via Toll-Like Receptor 4-Dependent and -Independent Pathways
- 2012
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Ingår i: Infection and Immunity. - 0019-9567 .- 1098-5522. ; 80:11, s. 4027-4033
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Activation of macrophages by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and functionally related proteins is essential for host defense and innate immunity. TLRs recognize a wide variety of pathogen-associated molecules. Here, we demonstrate that the meningococcal outer membrane protein NhhA has immunostimulatory functions and triggers release of proinflammatory cytokines from macrophages. NhhA-induced cytokine release was found to proceed via two distinct pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion was dependent on activation of TLR4 and required the TLR signaling adaptor protein MyD88. In contrast, release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was TLR4 and MyD88 independent. Both pathways involved NF-kappa B-dependent gene regulation. Using a PCR-based screen, we could identify additional targets of NhhA-dependent gene activation such as the cytokines and growth factors IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). In human monocyte-derived macrophages, G-CSF, GM-CSF, and IL-6 were found to be major targets of NhhA-dependent gene regulation. NhhA induced transcription of IL-6 and G-CSF mRNA via TLR4-dependent pathways, whereas GM-CSF transcription was induced via TLR4-independent pathways. These data provide new insights into the role of NhhA in host-pathogen interaction.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Wang, Xiao, et al.
(författare)
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CD46 accelerates macrophage-mediated host susceptibility to meningococcal sepsis in a murine model
- 2017
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Ingår i: European Journal of Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0014-2980 .- 1521-4141. ; 47:1, s. 119-130
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- CD46, a membrane cofactor expressed on all nucleated human cells, plays an essential role in suppressing autoimmune reactions and protecting host cells from complement-mediated attack. Human transgenic CD46 homozygousmice (CD46(+/+)) are prone to lethal sepsis upon infection with Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis). However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we determined thatCD46(+/+) mice produce large numbers of M1 type macrophages with enhanced surface expression of MHC II and production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-6, TNF, IL-12, and IL-1 beta In the presence of M-CSF or GM-CSF, CD46 signaling enhances monocyte-macrophage differentiation. Additionally, CD46(+/+) macrophages rapidly undergo apoptosis upon LPS challenge or meningococcal infection, which could contribute to uncontrolled bacterial dissemination in vivo. Adoptive transfer of CD46(+/+) peritoneal macrophages aggravated septic responses in wild-type mice, but the depletion of macrophages partially alleviated septic reactions in CD46(+/+) mice after N. meningitidis infection. Our findings reveal a novel role of CD46 in accelerating inflammatory responses upon meningococcal infection or LPS stimulation by regulating the functional polarization and survival of macrophages.
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| 7. |
- Wang, Xiao, et al.
(författare)
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Immune Homeostatic Macrophages Programmed by the Bacterial Surface Protein NhhA Potentiate Nasopharyngeal Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis
- 2016
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Ingår i: mBio. - 2161-2129 .- 2150-7511. ; 7:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neisseria meningitidis colonizes the nasopharyngeal mucosa of healthy populations asymptomatically although the bacterial surface is rich in motifs that activate the host innate immunity. What determines the tolerant host response to this bacterium in asymptomatic carriers is poorly understood. We demonstrated that the conserved meningococcal surface protein, NhhA, orchestrates monocyte (Mo) differentiation specifically into macrophage-like cells with a CD200Rhi phenotype (NhhA-MΦ). In response to meningococcal stimulation, NhhA-MΦ failed to produce proinflammatory mediators. Instead, they upregulated IL-10 and Th2/Treg-attracting chemokines, such as CCL-17, CCL-18, and CCL-22. Moreover, NhhA-MΦ cells were highly efficient in eliminating bacteria. The in vivo validity of these findings was corroborated using a murine model challenged with N. meningitidis systematically or intranasally. NhhA-modulated immune response protected mice from septic shock; Mo/MΦ depletion abolished this protective effect. Intranasal administration of NhhA induced an anti-inflammatory response, which was associated with N. meningitidis persistence at the nasopharynx. In vitro studies demonstrated that NhhA-triggered Mo differentiation occurred upon engaged toll-like receptor (TLR)1/TLR2 signaling and ERK and JNK activation and required endogenously produced IL-10 and TNF-α. Our findings reveal a strategy that might be adopted by N. meningitidis to maintain asymptomatic nasopharyngeal colonization.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Basmarke-Wehelie, Rahma, et al.
(författare)
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The complement regulator CD46 is bactericidal to Helicobacter pylori and blocks urease activity
- 2011
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Ingår i: Gastroenterology. - Baltimore : Elsevier BV. - 0016-5085 .- 1528-0012. ; 141:3, s. 918-928
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND & AIMS: CD46 is a C3b/C4b binding complement regulator and a receptor for several human pathogens. We examined the interaction between CD46 and Helicobacter pylori (a bacterium that colonizes the human gastric mucosa and causes gastritis), peptic ulcers, and cancer.METHODS: Using gastric epithelial cells, we analyzed a set of H pylori strains and mutants for their ability to interact with CD46 and/or influence CD46 expression. Bacterial interaction with full-length CD46 and small CD46 peptides was evaluated by flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and bacterial survival analyses.RESULTS: H pylori infection caused shedding of CD46 into the extracellular environment. A soluble form of CD46 bound to H pylori and inhibited growth, in a dose- and time-dependent manner, by interacting with urease and alkyl hydroperoxide reductase, which are essential bacterial pathogenicity-associated factors. Binding of CD46 or CD46-derived synthetic peptides blocked the urease activity and ability of bacteria to survive in acidic environments. Oral administration of one CD46 peptide eradicated H pylori from infected mice.CONCLUSIONS: CD46 is an antimicrobial agent that can eradicate H pylori. CD46 peptides might be developed to treat H pylori infection.
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| 10. |
- de Klerk, Nele, et al.
(författare)
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Lactobacilli Reduce Helicobacter pylori Attachment to Host Gastric Epithelial Cells by Inhibiting Adhesion Gene Expression
- 2016
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Ingår i: Infection and Immunity. - 0019-9567 .- 1098-5522. ; 84:5, s. 1526-1535
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The human gastrointestinal tract, including the harsh environment of the stomach, harbors a large variety of bacteria, of which Lactobacillus species are prominent members. The molecular mechanisms by which species of lactobacilli interfere with pathogen colonization are not fully characterized. In this study, we aimed to study the effect of lactobacillus strains upon the initial attachment of Helicobacter pylori to host cells. Here we report a novel mechanism by which lactobacilli inhibit adherence of the gastric pathogen H. pylori. In a screen with Lactobacillus isolates, we found that only a few could reduce adherence of H. pylori to gastric epithelial cells. Decreased attachment was not due to competition for space or to lactobacillus-mediated killing of the pathogen. Instead, we show that lactobacilli act on H. pylori directly by an effector molecule that is released into the medium. This effector molecule acts on H. pylori by inhibiting expression of the adhesin-encoding gene sabA. Finally, we verified that inhibitory lactobacilli reduced H. pylori colonization in an in vivo model. In conclusion, certain Lactobacillus strains affect pathogen adherence by inhibiting sabA expression and thereby reducing H. pylori binding capacity.
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