PF-431396 hydrate inhibition of kinase phosphorylation during adherent-invasive Escherichia coli infection inhibits intra-macrophage replication and inflammatory cytokine release.

Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) have been implicated in the aetiology of Crohn's disease (CD). They are characterized by an ability to adhere to and invade intestinal epithelial cells, and to replicate intracellularly in macrophages resulting in inflammation. Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2) has previously been identified as a risk locus for inflammatory bowel disease and a regulator of intestinal inflammation. It is overexpressed in patients with colorectal cancer, a major long-term complication of CD. Here we show that Pyk2 levels are significantly increased during AIEC infection of murine macrophages while the inhibitor PF-431396 hydrate, which blocks Pyk2 activation, significantly decreased intramacrophage AIEC numbers. Imaging flow cytometry indicated that Pyk2 inhibition blocked intramacrophage replication of AIEC with no change in the overall number of infected cells, but a significant reduction in bacterial burden per cell. This reduction in intracellular bacteria resulted in a 20-fold decrease in tumour necrosis factor α secretion by cells post-AIEC infection. These data demonstrate a key role for Pyk2 in modulating AIEC intracellular replication and associated inflammation and may provide a new avenue for future therapeutic intervention in CD.

Inflammation associated ethanolamine facilitates infection by Crohn's disease-linked adherent-invasive Escherichia coli.

BACKGROUND: The predominance of specific bacteria such as adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) within the Crohn's disease (CD) intestine remains poorly understood with little evidence uncovered to support a selective pressure underlying their presence. Intestinal ethanolamine is however readily accessible during periods of intestinal inflammation, and enables pathogens to outcompete the host microbiota under such circumstances. METHODS: Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) to determine expression of genes central to ethanolamine metabolism; transmission electron microscopy to detect presence of bacterial microcompartments (MCPs); in vitro infections of both murine and human macrophage cell lines examining intracellular replication of the AIEC-type strain LF82 and clinical E. coli isolates in the presence of ethanolamine; determination of E. coli ethanolamine utilization (eut) operon transcription in faecal samples from healthy patients, patients with active CD and the same patients in remission following treatment. RESULTS: Growth on the intestinal short chain fatty acid propionic acid (PA) stimulates significantly increased transcription of the eut operon (fold change relative to glucose: >16.9; p-value <.01). Additionally ethanolamine was accessible to intra-macrophage AIEC and stimulated significant increases in growth intracellularly when it was added extracellularly at concentrations comparable to those in the human intestine. Finally, qRT-PCR indicated that expression of the E. coli eut operon was increased in children with active CD compared to healthy controls (fold change increase: >4.72; P < .02). After clinical remission post-exclusive enteral nutrition treatment, the same CD patients exhibited significantly reduced eut expression (Pre vs Post fold change decrease: >15.64; P < .01). INTERPRETATION: Our data indicates a role for ethanolamine metabolism in selecting for AIEC that are consistently overrepresented in the CD intestine. The increased E. coli metabolism of ethanolamine seen in the intestine during active CD, and its decrease during remission, indicates ethanolamine use may be a key factor in shaping the intestinal microbiome in CD patients, particularly during times of inflammation. FUND: This work was funded by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) grants BB/K008005/1 & BB/P003281/1 to DMW; by a Tenovus Scotland grant to MJO; by Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, Nestle Health Sciences, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Catherine McEwan Foundation grants awarded to KG; and by a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) fellowship (NE/L011956/1) to UZI. The IBD team at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow are supported by the Catherine McEwan Foundation and Yorkhill IBD fund. RKR and RH are supported by NHS Research Scotland Senior fellowship awards.