Hypoxia Reduces the Pathogenicity of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa by Decreasing the Expression of Multiple Virulence Factors

Our understanding of how the course of opportunistic bacterial infection is influenced by the microenvironment is limited. We demonstrate that the pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains derived from acute clinical infections is higher than that of strains derived from chronic infections, where tissues are hypoxic. Exposure to hypoxia attenuated the pathogenicity of strains from acute (but not chronic) infections, implicating a role for hypoxia in regulating bacterial virulence. Mass spectrometric analysis of the secretome of P. aeruginosa derived from an acute infection revealed hypoxia-induced repression of multiple virulence factors independent of altered bacterial growth. Pseudomonas aeruginosa lacking the Pseudomonas prolyl-hydroxylase domain-containing protein, which has been implicated in bacterial oxygen sensing, displays reduced virulence factor expression. Furthermore, pharmacological hydroxylase inhibition reduces virulence factor expression and pathogenicity in a murine model of pneumonia. We hypothesize that hypoxia reduces P. aeruginosa virulence at least in part through the regulation of bacterial hydroxylases

Sécrétion de la protéine Hsp70 dans les cellules intestinales (un marqueur de stress ?)

PARIS-BIUSJ-Thèses (751052125) / SudocPARIS-BIUSJ-Physique recherche (751052113) / SudocSudocFranceF

Immunotherapy With Antiprogrammed Cell Death 1 Antibody Improves Outcome in a Mouse Model of Spinal Cord Injury Followed by Staphylococcus aureus Pneumonia

International audienceObjectives: In patients with spinal cord injury, spinal cord injury-immune depression syndrome induces pneumonia. We aimed to develop a new spinal cord injury-immune depression syndrome mouse model and to test antiprogrammed cell death 1 therapy. Design: Experimental study. Setting: Research laboratory. Subjects: RjOrl: SWISS and BALB/cJ mice. Interventions: Mouse model of spinal cord injury-immune depression syndrome followed by a methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia. Lung injuries were assessed by histologic analysis. Membrane markers and intracytoplasmic cytokines were assessed by flow cytometry. Cytokine production was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (messenger RNA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (protein). Animals were treated with blocking antiprogrammed cell death 1 antibodies (intraperitoneal injection). Measurements and Main Results: Spinal cord injury mice were more susceptible to methicillin-susceptible S. aureus pneumonia (increased mortality rate). An early inflammatory response was observed in spinal cord injury mice characterized in lungs by a decreased percentage of aerated tissue, an increased production of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α). In spleen, an increased expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules on dendritic cells, and an increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-12, interferon-γ) was observed. Following this pulmonary and systemic inflammation, spinal cord injury-immune depression syndrome was observed in spleens as acknowledged by a decrease of spleen's weight, a lymphopenia, a decrease of major histocompatibility complex class II expression on dendritic cells. An increase of interleukin-10 production and the increase of a cell exhaustion marker expression, programmed cell death 1 receptor on T-cell were also observed. Blockade of programmed cell death 1 molecules, improved survival of spinal cord injury infected mice and enhanced interferon-γ production by natural killer T cells as well as number of viable CD4 + T cells. Conclusions: This model of spinal cord injury in mice mimics a clinical scenario rendering animals prone to a secondary pneumonia. We show for the first time an acute T-cell exhaustion-like phenomenon following an initial inflammatory response. Finally, inhibition of exhaustion pathway should be considered as a new therapeutic option to overcome spinal cord injury-immune depression syndrome and to decrease the rate of nosocomial pneumonia. (Crit Care Med 2019; 47:e28-e35) Key Words: brain injury; immunosuppression; immunotherapy; programmed cell death 1 receptor; spinal cord injury N osocomial infections are independent risk factors for poor neurologic outcome after motor complete spinal cord injury (SCI) (1). SCI induces a severe initial systemic inflammatory response followed by an intense period of immunosuppression which is recognized as an independent risk factor for infection (1, 2). Studies in human and rodent SCI models have already investigated the specifi

Exoenzyme T Plays a Pivotal Role in the IFN-γ Production after Pseudomonas Challenge in IL-12 Primed Natural Killer Cells

International audiencePseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) expresses the type III secretion system (T3SS) and effector exoenzymes that interfere with intracellular pathways. Natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in antibacterial immunity and their activation is highly dependent on IL-12 produced by myeloid cells. We studied PA and NK cell interactions and the role of IL-12 using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, sorted human NK cells, and a human NK cell line (NK92). We used a wild-type (WT) strain of PA (PAO1) or isogenic PA-deleted strains to delineate the role of T3SS and exoenzymes. Our hypotheses were tested in vivo in a PA-pneumonia mouse model. Human NK cells or NK92 cell line produced low levels of IFN-γ in response to PA without IL-12 stimulation, whereas PA significantly increased IFN-γ after IL-12 priming. The modulation of IFN-γ production by PA required bacteria-to-cell contact. Among T3SS effectors, exoenzyme T (ExoT) upregulates IFN-γ production and control ERK activation. In vivo, ExoT also increases IFN-γ levels and the percentage of IFN-γ[+] NK cells in lungs during PA pneumonia, confirming in vitro data. In conclusion, our results suggest that T3SS could modulate the production of IFN-γ by NK cells after PA infection through ERK activation

Analysis of autofluorescence in polymorphonuclear neutrophils: a new tool for early infection diagnosis.

Diagnosing bacterial infection (BI) remains a challenge for the attending physician. An ex vivo infection model based on human fixed polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) gives an autofluorescence signal that differs significantly between stimulated and unstimulated cells. We took advantage of this property for use in an in vivo pneumonia mouse model and in patients hospitalized with bacterial pneumonia. A 2-fold decrease was observed in autofluorescence intensity for cytospined PMNs from broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) in the pneumonia mouse model and a 2.7-fold decrease was observed in patients with pneumonia when compared with control mice or patients without pneumonia, respectively. This optical method provided an autofluorescence mean intensity cut-off, allowing for easy diagnosis of BI. Originally set up on a confocal microscope, the assay was also effective using a standard epifluorescence microscope. Assessing the autofluorescence of PMNs provides a fast, simple, cheap and reliable method optimizing the efficiency and the time needed for early diagnosis of severe infections. Rationalized therapeutic decisions supported by the results from this method can improve the outcome of patients suspected of having an infection

Toll-like receptor-4 agonist in post-haemorrhage pneumonia: role of dendritic and natural killer cells

International audienceHaemorrhage-induced immunosuppression has been linked to nosocomial infections. We assessed the impact of monophosphoryl lipid A, a Toll/interleukin-1 receptor-domain-containing adaptor protein inducing interferon-biased Toll-like receptor-4 agonist currently used as a vaccine adjuvant in humans, on post-haemorrhage susceptibility to infection.We used a mouse model of post-haemorrhage pneumonia induced by methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. Monophosphoryl lipid A was administered intravenously after haemorrhage and before pneumonia onset.Haemorrhage altered survival rate, increased lung damage (neutrophil accumulation, oedema and cytokine release) and altered the functions of dendritic and natural killer cells. Here, we show that monophosphoryl lipid A decreased systemic dissemination of S. aureus and dampened inflammatory lung lesions. Monophosphoryl lipid A partially restored the capacity for antigen presentation and the transcriptional activity in dendritic cells. Monophosphoryl lipid A did not restore the interferon-c mRNA but prevented interleukin-10 mRNA overexpression in natural killer cells compared with untreated mice. Ex vivo monophosphoryl lipid A-stimulated dendritic cells or natural killer cells harvested from haemorrhaged animals were adoptively transferred into mice undergoing post-haemorrhage pneumonia. Stimulated dendritic cells (but not stimulated natural killer cells) improved the survival rate compared with mice left untreated. In vivo depletion of natural killer cells decreased survival rate of monophosphoryl lipid A-treated mice.Dendritic and natural killer cells are critically involved in the beneficial effects of monophosphoryl lipid A within post-haemorrhage pneumonia

Hypoxia Modulates Infection of Epithelial Cells by <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>

<div><p><em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa)</em> is an opportunistic pathogen commonly associated with lung and wound infections. Hypoxia is a frequent feature of the microenvironment of infected tissues which induces the expression of genes associated with innate immunity and inflammation in host cells primarily through the activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) pathways which are regulated by oxygen-dependent prolyl-hydroxylases. Hypoxia also affects virulence and antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. However, less is known about the impact of hypoxia on host-pathogen interactions such as bacterial adhesion and infection. In the current study, we demonstrate that hypoxia decreases the internalization of <em>P. aeruginosa</em> into cultured epithelial cells resulting in decreased host cell death. This response can also be elicited by the hydroxylase inhibitor Dimethyloxallyl Glycine (DMOG). Reducing HIF-2α expression or Rho kinase activity diminished the effects of hypoxia on <em>P. aeruginosa</em> infection. Furthermore, in an in vivo pneumonia infection model, application of DMOG 48 h before infection with <em>P. aeruginosa</em> significantly reduced mortality. Thus, hypoxia reduces <em>P. aeruginosa</em> internalization into epithelial cells and pharmacologic manipulation of the host pathways involved may represent new therapeutic targets in the treatment of <em>P. aeruginosa</em> infection.</p> </div