C-reactive protein enhances immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae by targeting uptake to Fc gamma R on dendritic cells

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant with roles in innate host defense, clearance of damaged cells, and regulation of the inflammatory response. These activities of CRP depend on ligand recognition, complement activation, and binding to FcgammaR. CRP binds to phosphocholine in the Streptococcus pneumoniae cell wall and provides innate defense against pneumococcal infection. These studies examine the effect of this early innate defense molecule on the development of Abs and protective immunity to S. pneumoniae. Dendritic cells (DC) initiate and direct the adaptive immune response by integrating innate stimuli with cytokine synthesis and Ag presentation. We hypothesized that CRP would direct uptake of S. pneumoniae to FcgammaR on DC and enhance Ag presentation. CRP opsonization of the R36a strain of S. pneumoniae increased the uptake of bacteria by DC. DC pulsed with untreated or CRP-opsonized R36a were transferred into recipient mice, and Ab responses were measured. In mice challenged with free R36a, CRP opsonization resulted in higher secondary and memory IgG responses to both phosphocholine and pneumococcal surface protein A. Furthermore, mice immunized with DC that had been pulsed with CRP-opsonized R36a showed increased resistance to intranasal infection with virulent S. pneumoniae. The effects of CRP on Ag uptake, Ab responses, and protection from infection all required FcR gamma-chain expression on DC. The results indicate that innate recognition by CRP enhances effective uptake and presentation of bacterial Ags through FcgammaR on DC and stimulates protective adaptive immunity.     

C-reactive protein increases cytokine responses to Streptococcus pneumoniae through interactions with Fc gamma receptors

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common organism responsible for community acquired pneumonia and meningitis. In pneumococcal pneumonia, a strong local inflammatory cytokine response reduces the frequency of bacteremia and increases survival. The initiation of this cytokine response by innate recognition of bacterial cell wall components through TLR has been described, but the role of soluble innate mediators has received limited attention. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein that binds phosphocholine residues on S. pneumoniae cell walls. CRP interacts with phagocytic cells through FcgammaRI and FcgammaRII and activates the classical complement pathway. CRP is protective in mouse pneumococcal bacteremia by increasing complement-dependent clearance and killing of bacteria. We studied the cytokine response of PBMC stimulated with CRP-opsonized S. pneumoniae to determine the effect of CRP interaction with FcgammaR. CRP dramatically increased the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in response to S. pneumoniae. These increases were blocked by phosphocholine, which inhibits CRP binding to S. pneumoniae, by inhibitors of FcgammaR signaling, and by mAb to FcgammaRI and FcgammaRII. A mutated rCRP with decreased FcgammaR binding had a decreased ability to stimulate TNF-alpha release, compared with wild-type CRP. Individuals who were homozygous for the R-131 allele of FcgammaRIIA, which has a higher affinity for CRP, showed higher responses to CRP-opsonized bacteria than did individuals homozygous for the H-131 allele, further implicating this receptor. The results indicate that CRP recognition of S. pneumoniae and binding to FcgammaR may enhance the early protective cytokine response to infection.     

C反应蛋白与动脉粥样硬化

人类C反应蛋白 (C reactiveprotein ,CRP)是在感染和组织损伤时血浆浓度快速、急剧升高的主要的急性期蛋白。CRP可以激活补体和加强吞噬细胞的吞噬而起调理作用 ,从而清除入侵机体的病原微生物和损伤、坏死、凋亡的组织细胞 ,在机体的天然免疫过程中发挥重要的保护作用。关于CRP的研究已经有 70多年的历史 ,传统观点认为CRP是一种非特异的炎症标志物 ,但近十年的研究揭示了CRP直接参与了炎症与动脉粥样硬化等心血管疾病 ,并且是心血管疾病最强有力的预示因子与危险因子     

Roles of CytR,an anti-activator of cyclic-AMP receptor protein (CRP) on flagellar expression and virulence in uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a major pathogen that causes urinary tract infection (UTI), a common bacterial infectious disease. This bacterium invades the urinary tract cells, where it aggregates, and subsequently forms multicellular colonies termed intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs). The motility of the bacteria plays a key role in the mechanism of virulence in the host bladder. Here, we show that CytR is a modulator of bacterial internalization and aggregation within the bladder epithelial cells sustained by CRP in UPEC. Mutational analyses and gel-shift assays indicated that CytR represses the expression of flhD, thereby encoding a master regulator for flagellar expression that is responsible for bacterial motility when CRP is present, whereas CRP is an activator of flhD expression. Thus, elevated flagellar expression was involved in promoted virulence in the cytR mutant. These combined observations suggest another regulatory layer of flagellar expression and the role of CytR in UPEC virulence.     

Phosphorylated viral protein evades plant immunity through interfering the function of RNA-binding protein

Successful pathogen infection in plant depends on a proper interaction between the invading pathogen and its host. Post-translational modification (PTM) plays critical role(s) in plant-pathogen interaction. However, how PTM of viral protein regulates plant immunity remains poorly understood. Here, we found that S162 and S165 of Chinese wheat mosaic virus (CWMV) cysteine-rich protein (CRP) are phosphorylated by SAPK7 and play key roles in CWMV infection. Furthermore, the phosphorylation-mimic mutant of CRP (CRP^S162/165D) but not the non-phosphorylatable mutant of CRP (CRP^S162/165A) interacts with RNA-binding protein UBP1-associated protein 2C (TaUBA2C). Silencing of TaUBA2C expression in wheat plants enhanced CWMV infection. In contrast, overexpression of TaUBA2C in wheat plants inhibited CWMV infection. TaUBA2C inhibits CWMV infection through recruiting the pre-mRNA of TaNPR1, TaPR1 and TaRBOHD to induce cell death and H₂O₂ production. This effect can be supressed by CRP^S162/165D through changing TaUBA2C chromatin-bound status and attenuating it’s the RNA- or DNA-binding activities. Taken together, our findings provide new knowledge on how CRP phosphorylation affects CWMV infection as well as the arms race between virus and wheat plants.     

Blood clearance of Streptococcus pneumoniae by C-reactive protein

C-reactive protein (CRP) has long been known to be an acute phase protein associated with infection and various forms of tissue damage. Recent studies have shown that human CRP can be used to passively protect mice from lethal infection with Streptococci pneumoniae. In this study we have undertaken a detailed examination of the ability of human CRP and rabbit CRP (CxRP) to mediate the blood clearance of pneumococci in mice. We have shown that the optimal activity of these acute-phase proteins requires a functioning complement system, and it can take place even in the xid mouse, which has virtually no naturally occurring anti-pneumococcal antibody in its serum. These studies provide additional evidence that CRP may play a protective role in pneumococcal infections, and it may help postpone the development of fatal levels of pneumococci in the blood, long enough for an effective anti-pneumococcal antibody response to be generated.     

Inhibition of antibody responses to phosphocholine by C-reactive protein

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase serum protein in man that binds to the cell wall C-polysaccharide (PnC) of Streptococcus pneumoniae via phosphocholine (PC) determinants. We have previously shown that in mice CRP increases splenic clearance of PnC-coated autologous erythrocytes and S. pneumoniae, and increases survival after pneumococcal infection. Because CRP alters clearance of particulate PnC antigens, we tested its effect on immunization with pneumococci. Pretreatment of mice with 50 to 200 micrograms CRP 30 min before immunization with serotype 3 S. pneumoniae resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of the antibody response to PC. Both serum hemagglutinin and splenic PFC against PC were decreased in CRP-treated mice tested from 1 to 10 days after injection of antigen. CRP treatment had no effect on the antibody response to the serotype 3 capsular polysaccharide, another T-independent antigen. To determine whether CRP inhibition was related to altered processing of particulate antigen, mice were immunized with horse red blood cells (HRBC) conjugated with PC or PnC and the PFC responses to PC and HRBC were determined. CRP treatment resulted in specific inhibition of the PFC response to PC in both cases without affecting the response to HRBC. These results indicate that inhibition of the antibody response by CRP is not the result of altered antigen localization and processing, and that CRP may prevent immunization by masking determinants on bacterial or other surfaces.     

Elevation of C-reactive protein in serum of Channa punctatus as an indicator of water pollution.

Effect of some pollutants like heavy metals, non-metals and pesticides on the circulating level of C-reactive protein (CRP) which is an acute phase plasma protein was studied in a freshwater murrel C. punctatus. Fish was exposed to nonlethal doses of these xenobiotics which were apparently safe. But the level of CRP detected by sensitive single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) technique showed that within 12 hr of exposure the nonlethal doses of xenobiotics could initiate the acute phase response in terms of elevated CRP titre. Heavy metals caused the acute phase within 24 hr, nonmetals and Metacid-50 within 48 hr exposure. The carbamate compound, carbaryl demonstrated a biphasic response to CRP level which may be correlated with the reversible type of anticholinesterase property of this compound while Metacid-50 is an irreversible type of anticholinesterase agent. The assessment of the CRP level in the serum of fish may be utilized as a primary bioindicator of a contaminated environment toxic enough to mount an acute phase response.     

Effects of the RNA-binding protein,KSRP, on innate immune response against Helicobacter pylori infection in mice

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) contributes to various gastric diseases such as chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, and gastric carcinoma. Host innate immune response against the pathogen plays a significant role in elimination of pathogen infection. Importantly, pathogen elimination is closely related to numerous inflammatory-related genes that participate in complex biological response of cells to harmful stimuli. Here we studied effects of the KH-type splicing regulatory protein (KSRP), a RNA-binding protein, on innate immune response against H. pylori infection. We found that H. pylori infection downregulated KSRP expression directly, and that KSRP overexpression repressed upregulation of CXCL-2 expression induced by H. pylori and facilitated H. pylori proliferation in vitro. Similarly, KSRP overexpression in H. pylori mice also facilitated H. pylori proliferation and colonization, and induced more severe gastric mucosal damage. Intriguingly, CXCL-2 and HMOX-1 were upregulated in H. pylori infected mice after KSRP overexpression. This difference in expression of these genes implicated that KSRP was closely associated with and directly participated in the innate immune response against H. pylori. These results were beneficial for understanding the in vivo function of KSRP on innate immune response against pathogen infection.     

Protective effect of C-reactive protein against the lethality induced by Vibrio vulnificus lipopolysaccharide

Vibrio vulnificus infection has attracted special interest because of its high mortality. A strong clinical association exists between hepatic dysfunction and increased morbidity and mortality from V. vulnificus infection. In this study, the effect of C-reactive protein (CRP), a typical hepatogenic acute phase protein, on the lethality induced by V. vulnificus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was investigated in galactosamine-sensitized mice. The pretreatment of CRP, in a dose of at least 2 mg/kg, 2 hr before the challenge of LPS completely protected mice against the lethality by V. vulnificus LPS. The elevation of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induced by LPS administration was not affected by CRP pretreatment. However, the LPS- or TNF-alpha-induced hepatotoxicity was completely prevented by CRP. These results indicate that CRP does not prevent the synthesis, but prevents the hepatotoxic action of TNF-alpha. The possibility that impaired production of acute phase proteins in patients with pre-existing hepatic dysfunction may predispose the higher risk of V. vulnificus infection needs to be evaluated further.     

Vibrio vulnificus Secretes an Insulin-degrading Enzyme That Promotes Bacterial Proliferation in Vivo

We describe a novel insulin-degrading enzyme, SidC, that contributes to the proliferation of the human bacterial pathogen Vibrio vulnificus in a mouse model. SidC is phylogenetically distinct from other known insulin-degrading enzymes and is expressed and secreted specifically during host infection. Purified SidC causes a significant decrease in serum insulin levels and an increase in blood glucose levels in mice. A comparison of mice infected with wild type V. vulnificus or an isogenic sidC-deletion strain showed that wild type bacteria proliferated to higher levels. Additionally, hyperglycemia leads to increased proliferation of V. vulnificus in diabetic mice. Consistent with these observations, the sid operon was up-regulated in response to low glucose levels through binding of the cAMP-receptor protein (CRP) complex to a region upstream of the operon. We conclude that glucose levels are important for the survival of V. vulnificus in the host, and that this pathogen uses SidC to actively manipulate host endocrine signals, making the host environment more favorable for bacterial survival and growth.     

Dual control of C-reactive protein gene expression by interleukin-1 and interleukin-6.

Human C-reactive protein (CRP) is the major acute phase reactant during acute inflammation. The human CRP promoter is expressed in an inducible and cell-specific manner when linked to the bacterial CAT gene and transfected into human hepatoma cell cultures. In this paper we analyze the effect of several recombinant cytokines or CRP promoter inducibility in human Hep3B cells. When cytokines are tested singly the major inducer of CRP-CAT fusions is interleukin-6 (IL-6). Maximal CAT gene expression, however, is only achieved when both interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and IL-6 are present. The response to the two cytokines is cooperative. Cooperativity is maintained when the CRP promoter is linked to a different coding region, that of the bacterial neomycin phosphotransferase II gene. With a series of 5' and 3' deletions we show the existence of two distinct and independent regions responsive to IL-6 and located upstream to the TATA box. The IL-1 effect is exerted at the level of downstream sequences that are probably important for optimal mRNA translatability or nuclear-cytoplasmic transport. Inducibility is not influenced by the activation of protein kinases C or A and does not require new protein synthesis.     

Pathophysiological condition changes the conformation of a flexible FBG-related protein, switching it from pathogen-recognition to host-interaction

Although homeostatic disturbance of the blood pH and calcium in the vicinity of tissue injury/malignancy/local infection seems subtle, it can cause substantial pathophysiological consequences, a phenomenon which has remained largely unexplored. The fibrinogen-related proteins (FREPs) containing fibrinogen-like domain (FBG) represent a conserved protein family with a common calcium-binding region, implying the presence of elements responsive to physiological perturbation. Here, we studied the molecular interaction between a representative FREP, the M-ficolin, and an acute phase blood protein, the C-reactive protein (CRP), both of which are known to trigger and control seminal pathways in infection and injury. Using hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, we showed that the C-terminal region of M-ficolin FBG underwent dramatic conformational change upon pH and calcium perturbations. Biochemical and biophysical assays showed that under defined pathophysiological condition (pH 6.5, 2.0 mM calcium), the FBG:CRP interaction occurred more strongly compared to that under physiological condition (pH 7.4, 2.5 mM calcium). We identified the binding interface between CRP and FBG, locating it to the pH- and calcium-sensitive C-terminal region of FBG. By site-directed mutagenesis, we determined H284 in the N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)-binding pocket of the FBG, to be the critical CRP-binding residue. This conformational switch involving H284, explains how the pathophysiologically-driven FBG:CRP interaction diverts the M-ficolin away from GlcNAc/pathogen-recognition to host protein–protein interaction, thus enabling the host to regain homeostatic control. Our elucidation of the binding interface at the flexible FBG domain provides insights into the bioactive centre of the M-ficolin, and possibly other FREPs, which might aid future development of immunomodulators.     

PCT和CRP在感染性疾病诊断中的临床意义

目的:探讨PCT、CRP在感染性疾病诊断中的价值,评价两者与感染类型的相关性。方法:回顾性统计分析420例发热待查的患者血清PCT,血浆CRP浓度与感染的关系,采用胶体金法检测血清中PCT的浓度,免疫荧光比色法检测血浆中CRP浓度,血培养及血清学的方法检测感染是否存在及感染类型。结果:通过血培养或血清学鉴定出132例存在细菌感染(细菌组),病毒感染103例(病毒组),细菌病毒混合感染76例(混合感染组),109例阴性(非感染组)。PCT在细菌组水平最高(20.6±6.7)μg/L,非感染组水平最低(8.7±2.3)μg/L,四组间差异有统计学意义(F=34.69,P0.05)。CRP在混合组中水平最高(18.1±3.7)mg/L,在非感染组水平最低(5.8±1.7)mg/L,四组间差异有统计学意义(F=23.55,P0.05)。PCT对细菌感染检测的敏感度为92.7%,特异度为63.2%。PCT对病毒感染检测的敏感度为78.7%,特异性为46.0%。细菌感染组、病毒感染组和混合感染组血清CRP和PCT均呈正相关(P=0.000.05)。结论:细菌感染的PCT、CRP血清浓度明显高于病毒感染,两者对细菌感染患者的特异性均明显高于病毒感染,细菌感染PCT血清浓度较CRP变化敏感。     

Local Inflammation Induces Complement Crosstalk Which Amplifies the Antimicrobial Response

By eliciting inflammatory responses, the human immunosurveillance system notably combats invading pathogens, during which acute phase proteins (CRP and cytokines) are elevated markedly. However, the Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a persistent opportunistic pathogen prevalent at the site of local inflammation, and its acquisition of multiple antibiotic-resistance factors poses grave challenges to patient healthcare management. Using blood samples from infected patients, we demonstrate that P. aeruginosa is effectively killed in the plasma under defined local infection-inflammation condition, where slight acidosis and reduced calcium levels (pH 6.5, 2 mM calcium) typically prevail. We showed that this powerful antimicrobial activity is provoked by crosstalk between two plasma proteins; CRP∶L-ficolin interaction led to communication between the complement classical and lectin pathways from which two amplification events emerged. Assays for C4 deposition, phagocytosis, and protein competition consistently proved the functional significance of the amplification pathways in boosting complement-mediated antimicrobial activity. The infection-inflammation condition induced a 100-fold increase in CRP∶L-ficolin interaction in a pH- and calcium-sensitive manner. We conclude that the infection-induced local inflammatory conditions trigger a strong interaction between CRP∶L-ficolin, eliciting complement-amplification pathways which are autonomous and which co-exist with and reinforce the classical and lectin pathways. Our findings provide new insights into the host immune response to P. aeruginosa infection under pathological conditions and the potential development of new therapeutic strategies against bacterial infection.     

Serum amyloid P aids complement-mediated immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae

The physiological functions of the acute phase protein serum amyloid P (SAP) component are not well defined, although they are likely to be important, as no natural state of SAP deficiency has been reported. We have investigated the role of SAP for innate immunity to the important human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. Using flow cytometry assays, we show that SAP binds to S. pneumoniae, increases classical pathway-dependent deposition of complement on the bacteria, and improves the efficiency of phagocytosis. As a consequence, in mouse models of infection, mice genetically engineered to be SAP-deficient had an impaired early inflammatory response to S. pneumoniae pneumonia and were unable to control bacterial replication, leading to the rapid development of fatal infection. Complement deposition, phagocytosis, and control of S. pneumoniae pneumonia were all improved by complementation with human SAP. These results demonstrate a novel and physiologically significant role for SAP for complement-mediated immunity against an important bacterial pathogen, and provide further evidence for the importance of the classical complement pathway for innate immunity.     

PCT, IL-6及CRP 对新生儿宫内细菌感染的诊断价值

目的:探讨降钙素原(PCT)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)及C反应蛋白(CRP)对新生儿宫内细菌感染的诊断价值。方法:根据感染结局将2013年3月-2014年9月在我院分娩且有宫内感染高危因素的179例新生儿分为感染组(34例)和无感染组(145例),检测两组新生儿的PCT、IL-6及CRP水平,并比较其对宫内细菌感染的诊断价值。结果:感染组新生儿脐带血PCT、IL-6、CRP水平均高于无感染组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。感染组新生儿各单个指标阳性率、两指标联合检测阳性率高于无感染组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05),感染组新生儿PCT、IL-6阳性率高于CRP,PCT+IL-6的阳性率高于PCT+CRP、IL-6+CRP,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。PCT+IL-6的灵敏度、准确率高于单个指标及其他两个指标联合检测,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05),各项指标检测的特异性比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:新生儿宫内感染采用脐带血PCT检测具有灵敏度高、特异性好的特点,联合IL-6检测是临床诊断新生儿宫内感染的有效方式。