Mycobacterium leprae-induced Insulin-like Growth Factor I attenuates antimicrobial mechanisms, promoting bacterial survival in macrophages.

Mycobacterium leprae (ML), the etiologic agent of leprosy, can subvert macrophage antimicrobial activity by mechanisms that remain only partially understood. In the present study, the participation of hormone insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in this phenomenum was investigated. Macrophages from the dermal lesions of the disseminated multibacillary lepromatous form (LL) of leprosy expressed higher levels of IGF-I than those from the self-limited paucibacillary tuberculoid form (BT). Higher levels of IGF-I secretion by ML-infected macrophages were confirmed in ex vivo and in vitro studies. Of note, the dampening of IGF-I signaling reverted the capacity of ML-infected human and murine macrophages to produce antimicrobial molecules and promoted bacterial killing. Moreover, IGF-I was shown to inhibit the JAK/STAT1-dependent signaling pathways triggered by both mycobacteria and IFN-γ most probably through its capacity to induce the suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3). Finally, these in vitro findings were corroborated by in vivo observations in which higher SOCS3 expression and lower phosphorylation of STAT1 levels were found in LL versus BT dermal lesions. Altogether, our data strongly suggest that IGF-I contributes to the maintenance of a functional program in infected macrophages that suits ML persistence in the host, reinforcing a key role for IGF-I in leprosy pathogenesis.

Mycobacterium leprae-induced insulin-like growth factor I attenuates antimicrobial mechanisms, promoting bacterial survival in macrophages

Mycobacterium leprae (ML), the etiologic agent of leprosy, can subvert macrophage antimicrobial activity by mechanisms that remain only partially understood. In the present study, the participation of hormone insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in this phenomenum was investigated. Macrophages from the dermal lesions of the disseminated multibacillary lepromatous form (LL) of leprosy expressed higher levels of IGF-I than those from the self-limited paucibacillary tuberculoid form (BT). Higher levels of IGF-I secretion by ML-infected macrophages were confirmed in ex vivo and in vitro studies. Of note, the dampening of IGF-I signaling reverted the capacity of ML-infected human and murine macrophages to produce antimicrobial molecules and promoted bacterial killing. Moreover, IGF-I was shown to inhibit the JAK/STAT1-dependent signaling pathways triggered by both mycobacteria and IFN-γ most probably through its capacity to induce the suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3). Finally, these in vitro findings were corroborated by in vivo observations in which higher SOCS3 expression and lower phosphorylation of STAT1 levels were found in LL versus BT dermal lesions. Altogether, our data strongly suggest that IGF-I contributes to the maintenance of a functional program in infected macrophages that suits ML persistence in the host, reinforcing a key role for IGF-I in leprosy pathogenesis.

Estudo do papel do Fator de Crescimento Semelhante à Insulina-I (IGF-I) na modulação funcional de macrófagos infectados pelo Mycobacterium leprae / Study of the role of growth factor insulin-like (IGF-I) in the functional modulation of macrophages infected with Mycobacterium leprae

Fagócitos mononucleares são as células-alvo para micobactérias patogênicas que geralmente requerem um ambiente intracelular adequado para sua sobrevivência e replicação. Mycobacterium leprae, o agente etiológico da Hanseníase, é capaz de subverter mecanismos microbicidas de macrófagos e sobreviver e replicar no interior dessas células. Contudo o mecanismo molecular envolvido na modulação da célula hospedeira, não étotalmente compreendido. O presente estudo mostrou o potencial papel exercido pelo IGF-I na patogênese causada pelo M. leprae. Foi demonstrado que o M. leprae induz a expressão do fator de crescimento semelhante a insulina (IGF-I), em macrófagos RAW 264.7. Curiosamente, apenas quando as células foram tratadas com anticorpo neutralizante para o receptor do tipo I de IGF-I (IGF-1R) o M. leprae foi capaz de regular positivamente a expressão da enzima óxido nítrico sintase induzível (iNOS) em macrófagos RAW 264.7 ou ativar o promotor de iNOS em células transfectadas com a construção contendo gene repórter da luciferase sob o controle do promotor de iNOSO bloqueio da sinalização de IGF-I reduziu a viabilidade intracelular do M. leprae determinada por qPCR. As células RAW 264.7 pré-tratadas com IGF-I apresentaram uma redução significativa da atividade do promotor iNOS em resposta ao Mycobacterium bovis BCG, Mycobacterium smegmatis e consequentemente um aumento na viabilidade intracelular monitorada através de contagem de Unidades Formadoras de Colônia (CFU). Outro fato é que IGF-I foi capaz de atenuar a ativação de macrófagos mediada por IFN-gama medida através da expressão de iNOS e da quantificação da fosforilação de Ativador de transcrição e de transdução de sinal (pSTAT1). Além disso, o IGF-I foi capaz de induzir aumento de PGE2 em macrófagos, um eicosanoide previamente implicado na persistência micobacteriana no hospedeiro...

Mononuclear phagocytes are targeted cells for pathogenic mycobacteria thatgenerally require afavorable intracellular environment in wich they survive and replicate. Mycobacterium leprae, the etiologic agent of leprosy, is able to subvert macrophage microbicidal mechanisms and survive and replicate within these cells. However, the molecular mechanism involved in pathogen driven host cellmodulation is not fully understood. The present study investigated the potential role of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in M. leprae pathogenesis. We showed that M.leprae induces IGF-I expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, only when cells were treated with a neutralizing antibody to IGFtype 1 receptor (IGF-1R), M. leprae infection was able to upregulate inducible nitricoxide sintase (iNOS) expression in RAW cells or to activate the iNOS promoter incells transfected with the iNOS-luciferase reporter construct. . The blockage ofIGF-I signaling also decreased the intracellular M. leprae viability as measured byqPCR. Moreover, RAW cells pre-treated with IGF-I showed a significant reduction in iNOS promoter activity in response to Mycobacterium bovis BCG and Mycobacterium smegmatis with subsequent increase in bacterial intracellular survival as accessed by colony-forming unit counts (CFU). Of note, IGF-I was able to attenuate interferon gamma (IFN-gama ) activating effects on macrophages asacessed by iNOS expression and quantification of phosphorylated SignalTransducers and Activators of Transcription 1 (p-STAT1). Additionally, IGF-I was able to induce PGE2 secretion in murine macrophages, an eicosanoid previously implicated in mycobacterial persistence in the host. Finally, immunohistochemicalanalysis of skin lesions of lepromatous leprosy (LL) patients revealed an abundantexpression of IGF-I by highly infected foamy macrophages...

Mycobacterium leprae induces insulin-like growth factor and promotes survival of Schwann cells upon serum withdrawal.

Peripheral nerve lesions are considered the most relevant symptoms of leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The strategies employed by M. leprae to infect and multiply inside Schwann cells (SCs), however, remain poorly understood. In this study, it is shown that treatment of SCs with M. leprae significantly decreased cell death induced by serum deprivation. Not displayed by Mycobacterium smegmatis or Mycobacterium bovis BCG, the M. leprae survival effect was both dose dependent and specific. The conditioned medium (CM) of M. leprae-treated cultures was seen to mimic the protective effect of the bacteria, suggesting that soluble factors secreted by SCs in response to M. leprae were involved in cell survival. Indeed, by quantitative RT-PCR and dot blot/ELISA, it was demonstrated that M. leprae induced the expression and secretion of the SC survival factor insulin-like growth factor-I. Finally, the involvement of this hormone in M. leprae-induced SC survival was confirmed in experiments with neutralizing antibodies. Taken together, the results of this study delineate an important strategy for the successful colonization of M. leprae in the nerve based on the survival maintenance of the host cell through induction of IGF-I production.