Screening for eukaryotic motifs in Legionella pneumophila reveals Smh1 as bacterial deacetylase of host histones.

Legionella pneumophila (L.p.) is a bacterial pathogen which is a common causative agent of pneumonia. In humans, it infects alveolar macrophages and transfers hundreds of virulence factors that interfere with cellular signalling pathways and the transcriptomic landscape to sustain its own replication. By this interaction, it has acquired eukaryote-like protein motifs by gene transfer events that partake in the pathogenicity of Legionella. In a computational screening approach for eukaryotic motifs in the transcriptome of Legionella, we identified the L.p. strain Corby protein ABQ55614 as putative histone-deacetylase and named it "suppressing modifier of histones 1" (Smh1). During infection, Smh1 is translocated from the Legionella vacuole into the host cytosol. When expressed in human macrophage THP-1 cells, Smh1 was localized predominantly in the nucleus, leading to broad histone H3 and H4 deacetylation, blunted expression of a large number of genes (e.g. IL-1ß and IL-8), and fostered intracellular bacterial replication. L.p. with a Smh1 knockdown grew normally in media but showed a slight growth defect inside the host cell. Furthermore, Smh1 showed a very potent histone deacetylation activity in vitro, e.g. at H3K14, that could be inhibited by targeted mutation of the putative catalytic center inferred by analogy with eukaryotic HDAC8, and with the deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A. In summary, Smh1 displays functional homology with class I/II type HDACs. We identified Smh1 as a new Legionella virulence factor with a eukaryote-like histone-deacetylase activity that moderates host gene expression and might pave the way for further histone modifications.IMPORTANCELegionella pneumophila (L.p.) is a prominent bacterial pathogen, which is a common causative agent of pneumonia. In order to survive inside the host cell, the human macrophage, it profoundly interacts with host cell processes to advance its own replication. In this study, we identify a bacterial factor, Smh1, with yet unknown function as a host histone deacetylase. The activity of this factor in the host cell leads to attenuated gene expression and increased intracellular bacterial replication.

A MicroRNA Network Controls Legionella pneumophila Replication in Human Macrophages via LGALS8 and MX1.

Legionella pneumophila is an important cause of pneumonia. It invades alveolar macrophages and manipulates the immune response by interfering with signaling pathways and gene transcription to support its own replication. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression and are involved in defense against bacterial infections. Several pathogens have been shown to exploit the host miRNA machinery to their advantage. We therefore hypothesize that macrophage miRNAs exert positive or negative control over Legionella intracellular replication. We found significant regulation of 85 miRNAs in human macrophages upon L. pneumophila infection. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing revealed concordant changes of histone acetylation at the putative promoters. Interestingly, a trio of miRNAs (miR-125b, miR-221, and miR-579) was found to significantly affect intracellular L. pneumophila replication in a cooperative manner. Using proteome-analysis, we pinpointed this effect to a concerted downregulation of galectin-8 (LGALS8), DExD/H-box helicase 58 (DDX58), tumor protein P53 (TP53), and then MX dynamin-like GTPase 1 (MX1) by the three miRNAs. In summary, our results demonstrate a new miRNA-controlled immune network restricting Legionella replication in human macrophages.IMPORTANCE Cases of Legionella pneumophila pneumonia occur worldwide, with potentially fatal outcome. When causing human disease, Legionella injects a plethora of virulence factors to reprogram macrophages to circumvent immune defense and create a replication niche. By analyzing Legionella-induced changes in miRNA expression and genomewide chromatin modifications in primary human macrophages, we identified a cell-autonomous immune network restricting Legionella growth. This network comprises three miRNAs governing expression of the cytosolic RNA receptor DDX58/RIG-I, the tumor suppressor TP53, the antibacterial effector LGALS8, and MX1, which has been described as an antiviral factor. Our findings for the first time link TP53, LGALS8, DDX58, and MX1 in one miRNA-regulated network and integrate them into a functional node in the defense against L. pneumophila.

Antibacterial activity of a Tribolium castaneum defensin in an in vitro infection model of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is the most common bacterial cause of community-acquired pneumonia. Increasing rates of antibiotic-resistant S. pneumoniae strains impair therapy and necessitate alternative treatment options. In this study, we analysed insect-derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) for antibacterial effects on S. pneumoniae in a human in vitro infection model.AMP effects on bacterial growth were examined by colony forming unit (CFU)-assays, and growth curve measurements. Furthermore, cytotoxicity to primary human macrophages was detected by measuring lactate-dehydrogenase release to the supernatant. One AMP (Defensin 1) was tested in a model of primary human monocyte-derived macrophages infected with S. pneumoniae strain D39 and a multi-resistant clinical isolate. Inflammatory reactions were characterised by qPCR and multiplex-ELISA.In total, the antibacterial effects of 23 AMPs were characterized. Only Tribolium castaneum Defensin 1 showed significant antibacterial effects against S. pneumoniae strain D39 and a multi-resistant clinical isolate. During in vitro infection of primary human macrophages with S. pneumoniae D39, Defensin 1 displayed strong antibacterial effects, and consequently reduced bacteria-induced cytokine expression and release.In summary, Tribolium castaneum Defensin 1 showed profound antibacterial effectivity against Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 and a multi-resistant clinical isolate without unwanted cytotoxic or inflammatory side effects on human blood-derived macrophages.

Legionella pneumophila Outer Membrane Vesicles: Isolation and Analysis of Their Pro-inflammatory Potential on Macrophages.

Bacteria are able to secrete a variety of molecules via various secretory systems. Besides the secretion of molecules into the extracellular space or directly into another cell, Gram-negative bacteria can also form outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). These membrane vesicles can deliver their cargo over long distances, and the cargo is protected from degradation by proteases and nucleases. Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) is an intracellular, Gram-negative pathogen that causes a severe form of pneumonia. In humans, it infects alveolar macrophages, where it blocks lysosomal degradation and forms a specialized replication vacuole. Moreover, L. pneumophila produces OMVs under various growth conditions. To understand the role of OMVs in the infection process of human macrophages, we set up a protocol to purify bacterial membrane vesicles from liquid culture. The method is based on differential ultracentrifugation. The enriched OMVs were subsequently analyzed with regard to their protein and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) amount and were then used for the treatment of a human monocytic cell line or murine bone marrow-derived macrophages. The pro-inflammatory responses of those cells were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, alterations in a subsequent infection were analyzed. To this end, the bacterial replication of L. pneumophila in macrophages was studied by colony-forming unit assays. Here, we describe a detailed protocol for the purification of L. pneumophila OMVs from liquid culture by ultracentrifugation and for the downstream analysis of their pro-inflammatory potential on macrophages.

Legionella pneumophila-Derived Outer Membrane Vesicles Promote Bacterial Replication in Macrophages.

The formation and release of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) is a phenomenon of Gram-negative bacteria. This includes Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila), a causative agent of severe pneumonia. Upon its transmission into the lung, L. pneumophila primarily infects and replicates within macrophages. Here, we analyzed the influence of L. pneumophila OMVs on macrophages. To this end, differentiated THP-1 cells were incubated with increasing doses of Legionella OMVs, leading to a TLR2-dependent classical activation of macrophages with the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Inhibition of TLR2 and NF-κB signaling reduced the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, treatment of THP-1 cells with OMVs prior to infection reduced replication of L. pneumophila in THP-1 cells. Blocking of TLR2 activation or heat denaturation of OMVs restored bacterial replication in the first 24 h of infection. With prolonged infection-time, OMV pre-treated macrophages became more permissive for bacterial replication than untreated cells and showed increased numbers of Legionella-containing vacuoles and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine induction. Additionally, miRNA-146a was found to be transcriptionally induced by OMVs and to facilitate bacterial replication. Accordingly, IRAK-1, one of miRNA-146a's targets, showed prolonged activation-dependent degradation, which rendered THP-1 cells more permissive for Legionella replication. In conclusion, L. pneumophila OMVs are initially potent pro-inflammatory stimulators of macrophages, acting via TLR2, IRAK-1, and NF-κB, while at later time points, OMVs facilitate L. pneumophila replication by miR-146a-dependent IRAK-1 suppression. OMVs might thereby promote spreading of L. pneumophila in the host.

The apoptosis associated tyrosine kinase gene is frequently hypermethylated in human cancer and is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms.

Epigenetic gene inactivation through promoter hypermethylation is an important aberration involved in the silencing of tumor-associated genes in cancer. Here we identified the apoptosis associated tyrosine kinase (AATK) as an epigenetically downregulated tumor related gene. We analyzed the epigenetic regulation of AATK in several human cancer cell lines and normal tissues by methylation and expression analysis. Hypermethylation of AATK was also analyzed in 25 primary lung tumors, 30 breast cancers and 24 matching breast tissues. In normal tissues the AATK CpG island promoter was unmethylated and AATK was expressed. Hypermethylation of AATK occurred frequently in 13 out of 14 (93%) human cancer cell lines. Methylation was reversed by 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment leading to re-expression of AATK in cancer cell lines. Aberrant methylation of AATK was also revealed in primary lung (40%) and breast (53%) cancers, but was found to be significantly less methylated in matching normal breast tissues (17%; p<0.01). In addition, we observed that AATK is epigenetically reactivated through the chromatin regulator CTCF. We further show that overexpression of Aatk significantly suppresses colony formation in cancer cell lines. Our findings suggest that the apoptosis associated tyrosine kinase is frequently inactivated in human cancers and acts as a tumor suppressive gene.