A novel mode of translocation for cytolethal distending toxin

Thermal instability in the toxin catalytic subunit may be a common property of toxins that exit the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by exploiting the mechanism of ER-associated degradation (ERAD). The Haemophilus ducreyi cytolethal distending toxin (HdCDT) does not utilize ERAD to exit the ER, so we predicted the structural properties of its catalytic subunit (HdCdtB) would differ from other ER-translocating toxins. Here, we document the heat-stable properties of HdCdtB which distinguish it from other ER-translocating toxins. Cell-based assays further suggested that HdCdtB does not unfold before exiting the ER and that it may move directly from the ER lumen to the nucleoplasm. These observations suggest a novel mode of ER exit for HdCdtB. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

The Haemophilus ducreyi cytolethal distending toxin induces DNA double-strand breaks and promotes ATM-dependent activation of RhoA

Artículo científico -- Universidad de Costa Rica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud, 2003. Este documento es privado debido a limitaciones de derechos de autor.Among bacterial protein toxins, the cytolethal distending toxins (CDTs) are unique in their ability to activate the DNA damage checkpoint responses, causing cell cycle arrest or apoptosis in intoxicated cells. We provide direct evidence that natural intoxication of cells with the Haemophilus ducreyi CDT (HdCDT) holotoxin induces DNA double-strand breaks similarly to ionizing radiation. Upon DNA damage, epithelial cells and fibroblasts promote the formation of actin stress fibres via activation of the small GTPase RhoA. This phenomenon is not toxin specific, but is part of the ATM-induced cellular responses to genotoxic stresses, including ionizing radiation. Activation of RhoA is associated with prolonged cell survival, as HdCDT-treated epithelial cells expressing a dominant-negative form of RhoA detach and consequently die faster than cells expressing a functional RhoA. Our data highlight several novel aspects of CDT biology: (i) we show that a member of the CDT family causes DNA double-strand breaks in naturally intoxicated cells, acting as a true genotoxic agent; and (ii) we disclose the existence of a novel signalling pathway for intracellularly triggered activation of the RhoA GTPase via the ATM kinase in response to DNA damage, possibly required to prolong cell survival.Universidad de Costa Rica. Instituto de Investigaciones en SaludUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA

A Bacterial Cytotoxin Identifies the RhoA Exchange Factor Net1 as a Key Effector in the Response to DNA Damage

Background: Exposure of adherent cells to DNA damaging agents, such as the bacterial cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) or ionizing radiations (IR), activates the small GTPase RhoA, which promotes the formation of actin stress fibers and delays cell death. The signalling intermediates that regulate RhoA activation and promote cell survival are unknown. Principal Findings: We demonstrate that the nuclear RhoA-specific Guanine nucleotide Exchange Factor (GEF) Net1 becomes dephosphorylated at a critical inhibitory site in cells exposed to CDT or IR. Expression of a dominant negative Net1 or Net1 knock down by iRNA prevented RhoA activation, inhibited the formation of stress fibers, and enhanced cell death, indicating that Net1 activation is required for this RhoA-mediated responses to genotoxic stress. The Net1 and RhoAdependent signals involved activation of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase p38 and its downstream target MAPKactivated protein kinase 2. Significance: Our data highlight the importance of Net1 in controlling RhoA and p38 MAPK mediated cell survival in cells exposed to DNA damaging agents and illustrate a molecular pathway whereby chronic exposure to a bacterial toxin ma

The Biology of the Cytolethal Distending Toxins

The cytolethal distending toxins (CDTs), produced by a variety of Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, are the first bacterial genotoxins described, since they cause DNA damage in the target cells. CDT is an A-B2 toxin, where the CdtA and CdtC subunits are required to mediate the binding on the surface of the target cells, allowing internalization of the active CdtB subunit, which is functionally homologous to the mammalian deoxyribonuclease I. The nature of the surface receptor is still poorly characterized, however binding of CDT requires intact lipid rafts, and its internalization occurs via dynamin-dependent endocytosis. The toxin is retrograde transported through the Golgi complex and the endoplasmic reticulum, and subsequently translocated into the nuclear compartment, where it exerts the toxic activity. Cellular intoxication induces DNA damage and activation of the DNA damage responses, which results in arrest of the target cells in the G1 and/or G2 phases of the cell cycle and activation of DNA repair mechanisms. Cells that fail to repair the damage will senesce or undergo apoptosis. This review will focus on the well-characterized aspects of the CDT biology and discuss the questions that still remain unanswered

Thioredoxin 80-Activated-Monocytes (TAMs) Inhibit the Replication of Intracellular Pathogens

BACKGROUND: Thioredoxin 80 (Trx80) is an 80 amino acid natural cleavage product of Trx, produced primarily by monocytes. Trx80 induces differentiation of human monocytes into a novel cell type, named Trx80-activated-monocytes (TAMs). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this investigation we present evidence for a role of TAMs in the control of intracellular bacterial infections. As model pathogens we have chosen Listeria monocytogenes and Brucella abortus which replicate in the cytosol and the endoplasmic reticulum respectively. Our data indicate that TAMs efficiently inhibit intracellular growth of both L. monocytogenes and B. abortus. Further analysis shows that Trx80 activation prevents the escape of GFP-tagged L. monocytogenes into the cytosol, and induces accumulation of the bacteria within the lysosomes. Inhibition of the lysosomal activity by chloroquine treatment resulted in higher replication of bacteria in TAMs compared to that observed in control cells 24 h post-infection, indicating that TAMs kill bacteria by preventing their escape from the endosomal compartments, which progress into a highly degradative phagolysosome. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results show that Trx80 potentiates the bactericidal activities of professional phagocytes, and contributes to the first line of defense against intracellular bacteria

Co- and polymicrobial infections in the gut mucosa : the host-microbiota-pathogen perspective

Infections in humans occur in the context of complex niches where the pathogen interacts with both the host microenvironment and immune response, and the symbiotic microbial community. The polymicrobial nature of many human infections adds a further layer of complexity. The effect of co- or polymicrobial infections can result in enhanced severity due to pathogens cooperative interaction or reduced morbidity because one of the pathogens affects the fitness of the other(s). In this review, the concept of co-infections and polymicrobial interactions in the context of the intestinal mucosa is discussed, focusing on the interplay between the host, the microbiota and the pathogenic organisms. Specifically, we will examine examples of pathogen-cooperative versus -antagonistic behaviour during co- and polymicrobial infections. We discuss: the infection-induced modulation of the host microenvironment and immune responses; the direct modulation of the microorganism's fitness; the potentiation of inflammatory/carcinogenic conditions by polymicrobial biofilms; and the promotion of co-infections by microbial-induced DNA damage. Open questions in this very exciting field are also highlighted

Mechanisms of immune escape in EBV associated malignancies : Hodgkin's disease and Burkitt's lymphoma

The work presented in this thesis is focused on the analysis of the mechanisms operating in the immune escape of two Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated tumors: Hodgkin's Disease (HD) and Burkitt's lymphoma (BL). EBV positive HD tumor cells express at least 3 viral proteins: the EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA)1, the latent membrane proteins (LMP)1 and LMP2A. LMP1 and LMP2A are targets for cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) mediated responses. To examine whether EBV triggered reactivities can be detected within tumor, infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), cytokine mRNA expression, cell phenotype and EBV specific Cytotoxic activity were analysed in biopsies from 8 EBV carrying and 6 EBV negative HD lesions. Neither the pattern of lymphokine production, nor the cell phenotype of the in vivo activated IL-2 responding T cell population provided a clear discrimination between EBV+ and EBV- cases. HLA class I restricted EBV specific cytotoxicity was demonstrated in IL-2 dependent cultures of TILs from 3 out of 3 EBV- tumors, whereas cultures from 6 out of 6 EBV+ tumors were either noncytotoxic, or exerted LAK-type cytotoxicity. EBV specific CTL precursors were present in the blood of one patient, carrying an EBV positive HD. These results suggest that suppression of EBV specific T cell responses at the tumor site may be an important component in the pathogenesis of EBV+ HD. EBV positive BL derived cell lines do not present endogenous antigens to CD8+ CTLs. Impaired presentation of the HLA A11-restricted epitope E4416-424 derived from the viral protein EBNA4 was associated with downregulation of the peptide transporters associated with antigen processing (TAP)1 and TAP2 and with altered expression of certain enzymatic and regulatory subunits of the proteasome. This may result in the production of different sets of endogenous peptides. Stimulation of BL cells via CD40 cross-linking induced upregulation of adhesion and costimulatory molecules, MHC class I and increased TAP1 and TAP2 expression, without affecting the subunit composition of the proteasome. These phenotypic changes were associated with increased stimulatory capacity in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) and enhanced sensitivity to natural killer (NK) cells. However, BL cells remained unable to present endogenously expressed viral antigens to EBV specific CTLs. The results highlight two possible routes of immune escape: a) local inhibition of T cell responses that could potentially recognise and destroy tumor cells expressing antigenic proteins; b) defective antigen presentation which would render the malignant cells invisible to CTLs specific for tumor antigens

Bacterial Genotoxins: Merging the DNA Damage Response into Infection Biology

Bacterial genotoxins are unique among bacterial toxins as their molecular target is DNA. The consequence of intoxication or infection is induction of DNA breaks that, if not properly repaired, results in irreversible cell cycle arrest (senescence) or death of the target cells. At present, only three bacterial genotoxins have been identified. Two are protein toxins: the cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) family produced by a number of Gram-negative bacteria and the typhoid toxin produced by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. The third member, colibactin, is a peptide-polyketide genotoxin, produced by strains belonging to the phylogenetic group B2 of Escherichia coli. This review will present the cellular effects of acute and chronic intoxication or infection with the genotoxins-producing bacteria. The carcinogenic properties and the role of these effectors in the context of the host-microbe interaction will be discussed. We will further highlight the open questions that remain to be solved regarding the biology of this unusual family of bacterial toxins