Higher expression of ferritin protects Chlamydia trachomatis infected HeLa 229 cells from reactive oxygen species mediated cell death

Apoptosis plays an important role in modulating the pathogenesis of a variety of infectious diseases. Chlamydial infection protects cells against different forms of apoptosis: extrinsic, intrinsic, and granzyme B mediated. Redox reactions are central to the life and death decision of cells and pathogens and an intimate relationship exists between oxidative stress and iron metabolism. The link between redox status and ferritin was largely unexplored in chlamydia-infected cells. In the present study, we showed that Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection induced FHC protein in HeLa cells. FHC induction by CT-infected cells stably expressing FHC blunted ROS production compared with mock infected cells, and the infected cells were relatively resistant to apoptosis induced by H?O?. We also demonstrated that endogenous FHC overexpression correlates well with the stabilization of the mitochondrial membrane potential in CT-infected cells. Increased expression of FHC is independent of iron supplementation (FAC) and depletion (DFO) in CT-infected cells. These data suggest that FHC up-regulation is an acute response of HeLa cells against CT infection and that FHC exerts anti-apoptotic activity against oxidative stress.     

Modulation of MICA on the surface of Chlamydia trachomatis-infected endocervical epithelial cells promotes NK cell-mediated killing

Chlamydia trachomatis serovars D-K are obligate intracellular bacteria that have tropism for the columnar epithelial cells of the genital tract. Chlamydia trachomatis infection has been reported to induce modifications in immune cell ligand expression on epithelial host cells. In this study, we used an in vitro infection model that resulted in a partial infection of C. trachomatis-exposed primary-like immortalized endocervical epithelial cells (A2EN). Using this model, we demonstrated that expression of the natural killer (NK) cell activating ligand, MHC class I-related protein A (MICA), was upregulated on C. trachomatis-infected, but not on noninfected bystander cells. MICA upregulation was concomitant with MHC class I downregulation and impacted the susceptibility of C. trachomatis-infected cells to NK cell activity. The specificity of MICA upregulation was reflected by a higher cytolytic activity of an NK cell line (NK92MI) against C. trachomatis-infected cells compared with uninfected control cells. Significantly, data also indicated that NK cells exerted a partial, but incomplete sterilizing effect on C. trachomatis as shown by the reduction in recoverable inclusion forming units (IFU) when cocultured with C. trachomatis-infected cells. Taken together, our data suggest that NK cells may play a significant role in the ability of the host to counter C. trachomatis infection.     

Chlamydial infection of polarized HeLa cells induces PMN chemotaxis but the cytokine profile varies between disseminating and non-disseminating strains

While genital infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis are generally asymptomatic, the density and pattern of inflammation varies considerably. The purpose of this study was to try to dissect the signalling in chlamydiae-infected epithelial cells that triggers innate responses and regulates polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) chemotaxis. Polarized endocervical epithelial HeLa cells, grown in commercial inserts, were inoculated either with the non-disseminating (luminal) serovar E or the disseminating serovar L2. At 12–48 h after infection, the chambers were used in a quantitative chemotaxis assay, and cytokine production by infected cells was examined using cDNA microarray technology and confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Infection of HeLa cells with C. trachomatis E or L2 induced a strong and similar PMN chemotactic response, but larger amounts of interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-11 were released after infection with serovar L2. IL-6 was also produced in modest amounts after infection with either strain, but no IL-1α or tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α was detected in any of the culture supernatants tested. IL-11 did not appear to influence the PMN response to chlamydial infection, but secretion of large amounts of this anti-inflammatory cytokine, mainly active on macrophages, in the very early stages of the infection may allow C. trachomatis to escape some innate defences to establish infection.     

沙眼衣原体血清型L2体外培养影响因素的研究

研究沙眼衣原体（Chlamydia trachomatis,Ct）血清型LGV L2在体外培养的繁殖规律及其影响因素,确定血清型LGV L2在体外培养的最佳生长发育条件。用沙眼衣原体血清型LGV L2分别感染HEp-2细胞、HeLa229细胞、HepG-2细胞、SGC-7901细胞和Vero细胞,在荧光显微镜下计数包涵体形成单位（inclusion fig-ure unity,IFU）和观察培养不同时间后包涵体的形态,比较不同细胞对血清型LGV L2的敏感性及血清型LGVL2在不同细胞内的生长情况。同时分别设DEAE葡聚糖处理组与未处理组,含放线菌酮培养组与不含放线菌酮培养组,比较培养12、24、36和48 h后血清型LGV L2包涵体形态、IFU和Real-Time PCR定量检测血清型LGV L2的核酸量,判断DEAE葡聚糖和放线菌酮对沙眼衣原体血清型LGV L2生长的影响。在感染20 h后,显微镜下观察发现HEp-2、Vero、HepG-2、HeLa和SGC-7901细胞均不同程度肿胀,5种细胞内均可见包涵体,大约40~48 h后包涵体占据整个胞浆。IFU计数和Real-Time PCR结果显示5种细胞中HeLa细胞感染率最高,HepG-2细胞感染率最低,血清型LGV L2在HeLa细胞中生长速度最快。荧光显微镜下计数IFU,发现DE-AE葡聚糖预处理组和对照组中血清型LGV L2的感染率和生长发育没有明显区别,而含放线菌酮培养组中各细胞内血清型LGV L2生长速度较对照组快,Real-Time PCR检测结果显示放线菌酮组各细胞内血清型LGVL2核酸量较对照组高。血清型LGV L2在HeLa细胞中的感染率最高,DEAE葡聚糖对血清型LGV L2的感染没有明显影响,而体外培养时添加放线菌酮有利于血清型LGV L2的生长发育。     

Interleukin-1 is the initiator of Fallopian tube destruction during Chlamydia trachomatis infection

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is associated with severe Fallopian tube tissue damage leading to tubal infertility and ectopic pregnancy. To explore the molecular mechanisms behind infection an ex vivo model was established from human Fallopian tubes and examined by scanning electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Extensive tissue destruction affecting especially ciliated cells was observed in C. trachomatis infected human Fallopian tube organ culture. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) produced by epithelial cells was detected after infection. Addition of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) completely eliminated tissue destruction induced by C. trachomatis. The anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 reduced the damaging effect of C. trachomatis infection, however, to a lesser extent than IL-1RA. Furthermore, IL-1 was found to induce IL-8, a neutrophil attractant, using a signal transduction pathway involving p38 MAP kinase. Consequently, IL-1 has the potential to generate a cellular infiltrate at the site of infection in vivo. Blocking the IL-1 receptors by IL-1RA eliminated tissue destruction and cytokine production. Hence, these studies show the importance of IL-1 in initiating the tissue destruction observed in the Fallopian tube following C. trachomatis infection. Because leukocytes are absent in the ex vivo model, this study strongly indicates that IL-1 is the initial proinflammatory cytokine activated by C. trachomatis infection.     

沙眼衣原体感染HeLa229细胞Bim表达及抑制凋亡研究

研究沙眼衣原体(D血清型)感染的HeLa229细胞中Bim蛋白质的表达及凋亡诱导剂作用后的凋亡情况。Western-blot检测沙眼衣原体感染和未感染的HeLa229细胞Bim蛋白质的表达水平。凋亡诱导剂etopo- side作用HeLa229细胞后,经Hoechst33258染色用荧光显微镜观察核浓缩和凋亡小体;流式细胞仪检测凋亡率。HeLa229细胞在未感染及感染沙眼衣原体6 h后可检测到Bim的表达;在感染24、48 h后均未检测到Bim的表达。经etoposide作用后,未感染的HeLa229细胞观察到明显的核浓缩和凋亡小体;流式细胞仪检测的凋亡率为90.64%。感染24 h的HeLa229细胞,未观察到核浓缩和凋亡小体;流式细胞仪检测的凋亡率为11.50%,与未感染的HeLa229细胞诱导后的凋亡率比较有统计学意义(P<0.05)。沙眼衣原体感染HeLa229细胞后可降低Bim蛋白质的表达;并能抑制etoposide诱导的细胞凋亡。     

Chlamydia protease-like activity factor (CPAF): characterization of proteolysis activity in vitro and development of a nanomolar affinity CPAF zymogen-derived inhibitor

During infection of epithelial cells, the obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis secretes the serine protease Chlamydia protease-like activity factor (CPAF) into the host cytosol to regulate a range of host cellular processes through targeted proteolysis. Here we report the development of an in vitro assay for the enzyme and the discovery of a cell-permeable CPAF zymogen-based peptide inhibitor with nanomolar inhibitory affinity. Treating C. trachomatis-infected HeLa cells with this inhibitor prevented CPAF cleavage of the intermediate filament vimentin and led to the loss of vimentin cage surrounding the intracellular vacuole. Because Chlamydia is a genetically intractable organism, this inhibitor may serve as a tool for understanding the role of CPAF in pathogenesis.     

Concurrent bacterial stimulation alters the function of helminth-activated dendritic cells, resulting in IL-17 induction

Infection with schistosome helminths is associated with granulomatous inflammation that forms around parasite eggs trapped in host tissues. In severe cases, the resulting fibrosis can lead to organ failure, portal hypertension, and fatal bleeding. Murine studies identified IL-17 as a critical mediator of this immunopathology, and mouse strains that produce high levels of IL-17 in response to schistosome infection show increased mortality. In this article, we demonstrate that schistosome-specific IL-17 induction by dendritic cells from low-pathology C57BL/6 mice is normally regulated by their concomitant induction of IL-10. Simultaneous stimulation of schistosome-exposed C57BL/6 dendritic cells with a heat-killed bacterium enabled these cells to overcome IL-10 regulation and induce IL-17, even in wild-type C57BL/6 recipients. This schistosome-specific IL-17 was dependent on IL-6 production by the copulsed dendritic cells. Coimmunization of C57BL/6 animals with bacterial and schistosome Ags also resulted in schistosome-specific IL-17, and this response was enhanced in the absence of IL-10-mediated immune regulation. Together, our data suggest that the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines that determines the severity of pathology during schistosome infection can be influenced not only by host and parasite, but also by concurrent bacterial stimulation.     

沙眼衣原体感染活化NOD1信号通路的研究

目的:探索沙眼衣原体(Chlamydia trachomatis,Ct)持续感染状态下,NOD1、IL-6及STAT3分子的表达情况和相互关系。方法:利用HeLa229细胞或STAT3基因沉默的HeLa229细胞,分别建立沙眼衣原体的急性感染和持续感染模型;应用Western Blot及ELISA等方法检测不同感染状态下STAT3及NOD1蛋白表达水平以及细胞因子IL-6的分泌水平。结果:HeLa229细胞在Ct感染状态下,STAT3和NOD1以及IL-6表达水平均升高,且于持续感染状态下的升高较急性感染状态下的升高更明显;沉默STAT3基因后,Ct感染的细胞NOD1及IL-6的表达水平下降明显。结论:HeLa229细胞在Ct持续感染状态下,STAT3能上调NOD1及IL-6表达水平,上述分子间存在NOD1-IL-6-STAT3正反馈信号通路。     

The host adherens junction molecule nectin-1 is degraded by chlamydial protease-like activity factor (CPAF) in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected genital epithelial cells

Nectin-1 is an adhesion protein implicated in the organization of adherens junctions and tight junctions in epithelial cells. Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated that nectin-1 accumulation was significantly decreased in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected HeLa cells. In the present study, Western blot analyses indicated that nectin-1 down-regulation was C. trachomatis concentration-dependent. The half-life of nectin-1 was also greatly diminished in C. trachomatis-infected cells compared to that observed in mock-infected cells, indicating that nectin-1 was likely down-regulated post-translationally. The chlamydia-secreted protease CPAF is known to degrade several important host proteins; CPAF expression within infected cells correlated with the time-dependent cleavage of nectin-1. Notably, CPAF proteolytic activity is inhibited by lactacystin but not by the proteosome inhibitor MG132. In vivo inhibition experiments demonstrated that nectin-1 down-regulation was blocked by lactacystin exposure. In contrast, MG132 had no effect. Finally, cell-free cleavage assays demonstrated that functional recombinant GST-CPAF(wt) protein degrades nectin-1. This degradation was blocked by lactacystin, as previously observed in vivo. Collectively, these results indicate that nectin-1 is degraded by CPAF in C. trachomatis-infected cells, a novel strategy that chlamydiae may use to aid their dissemination.     

Suppression of endogenous IL-10 gene expression in dendritic cells enhances antigen presentation for specific Th1 induction: potential for cellular vaccine development

A new paradigm for designing vaccines against certain microbial pathogens, including Chlamydia trachomatis, is based on the induction of local mucosal Th1 response. IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that exerts negative immunoregulatory influence on Th1 response. This study investigated whether biochemical modulation of endogenous IL-10 expression at the level of APCs is a practical strategy for enhancing the specific Th1 response against pathogens controlled by Th1 immunity. The results revealed that the high resistance of genetically engineered IL-10-/- (IL-10KO) mice to genital chlamydial infection is a function of the predilection of their APCs to rapidly and preferentially activate a high Th1 response. Thus, in microbiological analysis, IL-10KO mice suffered a shorter duration of infection, less microbial burden, and limited ascending infection than immunocompetent wild-type mice. Also, IL-10KO were resistant to reinfection after 8 wk of the primary infection. Cellular and molecular immunologic evaluation indicated that IL-10KO mice induced greater frequency of chlamydial-specific Th1 response following C. trachomatis infection. Moreover, IL-10KO APCs or antisense IL-10 oligonucleotide-treated wild-type APCs were potent activators of Th1 response from naive or immune T cells. Furthermore, both Ag-pulsed dendritic cells from IL-10KO mice and IL-10 antisense-treated dendritic cells from wild-type mice were efficient cellular vaccines in adoptive immunotherapeutic vaccination against genital chlamydial infection. These findings may furnish a novel immunotherapeutic strategy for boosting the Th1 response against T cell-controlled pathogens and tumors, using IL-10-deficient APCs as vaccine delivery agents.     

Biochemical evidence for the existence of thymidylate synthase in the obligate intracellular parasite Chlamydia trachomatis.

Since eucaryotic cell-derived thymidine or thymidine nucleotides are not incorporated into Chlamydia trachomatis DNA, we hypothesized that C. trachomatis must obtain dTTP for DNA synthesis by converting dUMP to dTMP. In most cells, this reaction is catalyzed by thymidylate synthase (TS) and requires 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate as a cofactor. We used C. trachomatis serovar L2 and a mutant CHO K1 cell line with a genetic deficiency in folate metabolism as a host for chlamydial growth. This cell line lacks a functional dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene and, as a result, is unable to carry out de novo synthesis of dTTP. C. trachomatis inclusions form normally when DHFR- cells are starved for thymidine 24 h prior to and during the course of infection. When [6-3H]uridine is used as a precursor to label C. trachomatis-infected CHO DHFR- cells, radiolabel is readily incorporated into chlamydia-specific DNA. When DNA from [6-3H]uridine-labelled infected cultures is acid hydrolyzed and subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, radiolabel is detected in thymine and cytosine nucleobases. By using the DHFR- cell line as a host and [5-3H]uridine as a precursor, we could monitor intracellular C. trachomatis TS activity simply by following the formation of tritiated water. There is a good correlation between in situ TS activity and DNA synthesis activity during the chlamydial growth cycle. In addition, both C. trachomatis-specific DNA synthesis and 3H2O release are inhibited by exogenously added 5-fluorouridine but not by 5-fluorodeoxyuridine. Finally, we demonstrated in vitro TS activity in crude extracts prepared from highly purified C. trachomatis reticulate bodies. The activity is dependent on the presence of methylenetetrahydrofolic acid and can be inhibited with 5-fluoro-dUMP. Taken together, these results indicate that C. trachomatis contains a TS for the synthesis of dTMP.     

Oxygen tolerance and coupling of mitochondrial electron transport

Oxygen is critical to aerobic metabolism, but excessive oxygen (hyperoxia) causes cell injury and death. An oxygen-tolerant strain of HeLa cells, which proliferates even under 80% O2, termed "HeLa-80," was derived from wild-type HeLa cells ("HeLa-20") by selection for resistance to stepwise increases of oxygen partial pressure. Surprisingly, antioxidant defenses and susceptibility to oxidant-mediated killing do not differ between these two strains of HeLa cells. However, under both 20 and 80% O2, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is significantly (approximately 2-fold) less in HeLa-80 cells. In both cell lines the source of ROS is evidently mitochondrial. Although HeLa-80 cells consume oxygen at the same rate as HeLa-20 cells, they consume less glucose and produce less lactic acid. Most importantly, the oxygen-tolerant HeLa-80 cells have significantly higher cytochrome c oxidase activity (approximately 2-fold), which may act to deplete upstream electron-rich intermediates responsible for ROS generation. Indeed, preferential inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase by treatment with n-methyl protoporphyrin (which selectively diminishes synthesis of heme a in cytochrome c oxidase) enhances ROS production and abrogates the oxygen tolerance of the HeLa-80 cells. Thus, it appears that the remarkable oxygen tolerance of these cells derives from tighter coupling of the electron transport chain.     

Spontaneous secretion of interleukin-17 and -22 by human cervical cells in Chlamydia trachomatis infection

To investigate whether IL-17A (IL-17) and IL-22 are produced in response to Chlamydia trachomatis infection, the cervical washes of 27 women with C. trachomatis infection and 17 C. trachomatis negative controls were collected. The levels of cytokines were determined in the cervical wash and in the supernatant of cervical and systemic cell cultures upon C. trachomatis antigen stimulation. C. trachomatis infection appeared to activate local IL-17 and IL-22 production more efficiently than IFN-γ production. In the cervical wash of infected women, median concentrations of IL-17 and -22 were 5- and 3-fold higher, respectively, than in negative controls. The spontaneous intracellular expression of these cytokines was analysed by flow cytometry in blood and cervical cells and 26% of cervical mononuclear cells from infected women were shown to produce IL-22 and 12% to coproduce IL-17 and IL-22. In addition, it was demonstrated that 20-25% of IL-22 producing and IL-17-IL-22 coproducing cervical CD4+ T cells expressed the mucosal homing receptor CCR6. These results suggest that CCR6 is involved in the migration of these cells to the cervix and that IL-17 and IL-22 might play a role in the immune response at the site of C. trachomatis infection.     

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women in Cuba

To determine the prevalence rates and serovar distribution of Chlamydia trachomatis cervical infections in Cuban women, two different groups were selected. Group I consisted of 60 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) seropositive women from different regions of Cuba and group II of 60 randomly selected women HIV seronegative and apparently healthy. C. trachomatis was detected in cervical scrapes by mean of nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specific for major out membrane protein. The overall prevalence rate of C. trachomatis in cervical scrapes determined by nested PCR was 10% in group I and the estimated prevalence was 6.6% for group II; 83.3% of HIV seropositive women with C. trachomatis infection reported history of pelvic inflammatory disease followed by cervicitis (50%). The control group C. trachomatis-infected women referred a history of cervicitis in 75% of cases. Other reports in the latter group included infertility and pelvic inflamatory disease in 50%. The present study is the first report of C. trachomatis prevalence in Cuba. It showed that there was not significantly difference in the prevalence rate of C. trachomatis between both groups.