Abstract
It is established that Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of bubonic plague, and enteropathogenic Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia enterocolitica share a ca. 70-kb low-calcium response or Lcr plasmid (Lcr+). The latter is known to encode regulatory functions that restrict growth at 37 degrees C in Ca(2+)-deficient medium and virulence factors that are expressed only in vitro within this environment (e.g., certain Yops and V antigen). In this study, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) was never detected in mice infected with 10 minimum lethal doses (MLD) of Lcr+ cells of Y. pestis, and significant levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) arose only prior to death. Prompt and marked synthesis of these cytokines was observed upon infection with avirulent Lcr- mutants. Treatment of mice with exogenous IFN-gamma plus TNF-alpha inhibited multiplication of Lcr+ yersiniae in vivo, thereby providing protection against challenge with 10 MLD. Administration of both cytokines was required for absolute survival, suggesting a synergistic rather than cumulative interaction. This protective effect entailed cytokine priming as judged by subsequent detection of substantial levels of endogenous IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. Monospecific anti-V-antigen, known to provide passive immunity against 10 MLD of Lcr+ Y. pestis, permitted significant synthesis of endogenous IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. These findings demonstrate that Lcr+ yersiniae suppress synthesis of cytokines and suggest that this effect is mediated by one or more Lcr plasmid-encoded virulence factors.
Full text
PDFImages in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Aggarwal B. B., Kohr W. J., Hass P. E., Moffat B., Spencer S. A., Henzel W. J., Bringman T. S., Nedwin G. E., Goeddel D. V., Harkins R. N. Human tumor necrosis factor. Production, purification, and characterization. J Biol Chem. 1985 Feb 25;260(4):2345–2354. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Armstrong J. A. Semi-micro, dye-binding assay for rabbit interferon. Appl Microbiol. 1971 Apr;21(4):723–725. doi: 10.1128/am.21.4.723-725.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- BURROWS T. W., BACON G. A. V and W antigens in strains of Pasteurella pseudotuberculosis. Br J Exp Pathol. 1960 Feb;41:38–44. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- BURROWS T. W., JACKSON S. The pigmentation of Pasteurella pestis on a defined medium containing haemin. Br J Exp Pathol. 1956 Dec;37(6):570–576. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- BURROWS T. W., JACKSON S. The virulence-enhancing effect of iron on nonpigmented mutants of virulent strains of Pasteurella pestis. Br J Exp Pathol. 1956 Dec;37(6):577–583. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bancroft G. J., Sheehan K. C., Schreiber R. D., Unanue E. R. Tumor necrosis factor is involved in the T cell-independent pathway of macrophage activation in scid mice. J Immunol. 1989 Jul 1;143(1):127–130. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Beesley E. D., Brubaker R. R., Janssen W. A., Surgalla M. J. Pesticins. 3. Expression of coagulase and mechanism of fibrinolysis. J Bacteriol. 1967 Jul;94(1):19–26. doi: 10.1128/jb.94.1.19-26.1967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bergman T., Håkansson S., Forsberg A., Norlander L., Macellaro A., Bäckman A., Bölin I., Wolf-Watz H. Analysis of the V antigen lcrGVH-yopBD operon of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis: evidence for a regulatory role of LcrH and LcrV. J Bacteriol. 1991 Mar;173(5):1607–1616. doi: 10.1128/jb.173.5.1607-1616.1991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bliska J. B., Guan K. L., Dixon J. E., Falkow S. Tyrosine phosphate hydrolysis of host proteins by an essential Yersinia virulence determinant. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991 Feb 15;88(4):1187–1191. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.4.1187. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brubaker R. R. Factors promoting acute and chronic diseases caused by yersiniae. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1991 Jul;4(3):309–324. doi: 10.1128/cmr.4.3.309. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brubaker R. R. Interconversion of Purine Mononucleotides in Pasteurella pestis. Infect Immun. 1970 May;1(5):446–454. doi: 10.1128/iai.1.5.446-454.1970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brubaker R. R. Mechanisms of bacterial virulence. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1985;39:21–50. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.39.100185.000321. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brubaker R. R., Sample A. K., Yu D. Z., Zahorchak R. J., Hu P. C., Fowler J. M. Proteolysis of V antigen from Yersinia pestis. Microb Pathog. 1987 Jan;2(1):49–62. doi: 10.1016/0882-4010(87)90114-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Buchmeier N. A., Schreiber R. D. Requirement of endogenous interferon-gamma production for resolution of Listeria monocytogenes infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1985 Nov;82(21):7404–7408. doi: 10.1073/pnas.82.21.7404. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bukholm G., Kapperud G., Skurnik M. Genetic evidence that the yopA gene-encoded Yersinia outer membrane protein Yop1 mediates inhibition of the anti-invasive effect of interferon. Infect Immun. 1990 Jul;58(7):2245–2251. doi: 10.1128/iai.58.7.2245-2251.1990. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bölin I., Portnoy D. A., Wolf-Watz H. Expression of the temperature-inducible outer membrane proteins of yersiniae. Infect Immun. 1985 Apr;48(1):234–240. doi: 10.1128/iai.48.1.234-240.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bölin I., Wolf-Watz H. The plasmid-encoded Yop2b protein of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a virulence determinant regulated by calcium and temperature at the level of transcription. Mol Microbiol. 1988 Mar;2(2):237–245. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1988.tb00025.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- CAVANAUGH D. C., RANDALL R. The role of multiplication of Pasteurella pestis in mononuclear phagocytes in the pathogenesis of flea-borne plague. J Immunol. 1959 Oct;83:348–363. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Carter P. B., Zahorchak R. J., Brubaker R. R. Plague virulence antigens from Yersinia enterocolitica. Infect Immun. 1980 May;28(2):638–640. doi: 10.1128/iai.28.2.638-640.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Engvall E. Enzyme immunoassay ELISA and EMIT. Methods Enzymol. 1980;70(A):419–439. doi: 10.1016/s0076-6879(80)70067-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ferber D. M., Brubaker R. R. Plasmids in Yersinia pestis. Infect Immun. 1981 Feb;31(2):839–841. doi: 10.1128/iai.31.2.839-841.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Forsberg A., Viitanen A. M., Skurnik M., Wolf-Watz H. The surface-located YopN protein is involved in calcium signal transduction in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Mol Microbiol. 1991 Apr;5(4):977–986. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1991.tb00773.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fortier A. H., Polsinelli T., Green S. J., Nacy C. A. Activation of macrophages for destruction of Francisella tularensis: identification of cytokines, effector cells, and effector molecules. Infect Immun. 1992 Mar;60(3):817–825. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.3.817-825.1992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Guan K. L., Dixon J. E. Protein tyrosine phosphatase activity of an essential virulence determinant in Yersinia. Science. 1990 Aug 3;249(4968):553–556. doi: 10.1126/science.2166336. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Haddix P. L., Straley S. C. Structure and regulation of the Yersinia pestis yscBCDEF operon. J Bacteriol. 1992 Jul;174(14):4820–4828. doi: 10.1128/jb.174.14.4820-4828.1992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Havell E. A. Evidence that tumor necrosis factor has an important role in antibacterial resistance. J Immunol. 1989 Nov 1;143(9):2894–2899. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Heesemann J., Gross U., Schmidt N., Laufs R. Immunochemical analysis of plasmid-encoded proteins released by enteropathogenic Yersinia sp. grown in calcium-deficient media. Infect Immun. 1986 Nov;54(2):561–567. doi: 10.1128/iai.54.2.561-567.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Janssen W. A., Surgalla M. J. Plague bacillus: survival within host phagocytes. Science. 1969 Feb 28;163(3870):950–952. doi: 10.1126/science.163.3870.950. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kindler V., Sappino A. P., Grau G. E., Piguet P. F., Vassalli P. The inducing role of tumor necrosis factor in the development of bactericidal granulomas during BCG infection. Cell. 1989 Mar 10;56(5):731–740. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(89)90676-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LAWTON W. D., ERDMAN R. L., SURGALLA M. J. BIOSYNTHESIS AND PURIFICATION OF V AND W ANTIGEN IN PASTEURELLA PESTIS. J Immunol. 1963 Aug;91:179–184. doi: 10.21236/ad0299868. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LOWRY O. H., ROSEBROUGH N. J., FARR A. L., RANDALL R. J. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem. 1951 Nov;193(1):265–275. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lambert de Rouvroit C., Sluiters C., Cornelis G. R. Role of the transcriptional activator, VirF, and temperature in the expression of the pYV plasmid genes of Yersinia enterocolitica. Mol Microbiol. 1992 Feb;6(3):395–409. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Leiby D. A., Fortier A. H., Crawford R. M., Schreiber R. D., Nacy C. A. In vivo modulation of the murine immune response to Francisella tularensis LVS by administration of anticytokine antibodies. Infect Immun. 1992 Jan;60(1):84–89. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.1.84-89.1992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Leung K. Y., Reisner B. S., Straley S. C. YopM inhibits platelet aggregation and is necessary for virulence of Yersinia pestis in mice. Infect Immun. 1990 Oct;58(10):3262–3271. doi: 10.1128/iai.58.10.3262-3271.1990. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Leung K. Y., Straley S. C. The yopM gene of Yersinia pestis encodes a released protein having homology with the human platelet surface protein GPIb alpha. J Bacteriol. 1989 Sep;171(9):4623–4632. doi: 10.1128/jb.171.9.4623-4632.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McGee Z. A., Clemens C. M., Jensen R. L., Klein J. J., Barley L. R., Gorby G. L. Local induction of tumor necrosis factor as a molecular mechanism of mucosal damage by gonococci. Microb Pathog. 1992 May;12(5):333–341. doi: 10.1016/0882-4010(92)90096-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mehigh R. J., Sample A. K., Brubaker R. R. Expression of the low calcium response in Yersinia pestis. Microb Pathog. 1989 Mar;6(3):203–217. doi: 10.1016/0882-4010(89)90070-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Michiels T., Cornelis G. R. Secretion of hybrid proteins by the Yersinia Yop export system. J Bacteriol. 1991 Mar;173(5):1677–1685. doi: 10.1128/jb.173.5.1677-1685.1991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Michiels T., Wattiau P., Brasseur R., Ruysschaert J. M., Cornelis G. Secretion of Yop proteins by Yersiniae. Infect Immun. 1990 Sep;58(9):2840–2849. doi: 10.1128/iai.58.9.2840-2849.1990. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mielke M. E., Rosen H., Brocke S., Peters C., Hahn H. Protective immunity and granuloma formation are mediated by two distinct tumor necrosis factor alpha- and gamma interferon-dependent T cell-phagocyte interactions in murine listeriosis: dissociation on the basis of phagocyte adhesion mechanisms. Infect Immun. 1992 May;60(5):1875–1882. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.5.1875-1882.1992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Morrissey J. H. Silver stain for proteins in polyacrylamide gels: a modified procedure with enhanced uniform sensitivity. Anal Biochem. 1981 Nov 1;117(2):307–310. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(81)90783-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Muotiala A., Mäkelä P. H. The role of IFN-gamma in murine Salmonella typhimurium infection. Microb Pathog. 1990 Feb;8(2):135–141. doi: 10.1016/0882-4010(90)90077-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nakane A., Minagawa T., Kato K. Endogenous tumor necrosis factor (cachectin) is essential to host resistance against Listeria monocytogenes infection. Infect Immun. 1988 Oct;56(10):2563–2569. doi: 10.1128/iai.56.10.2563-2569.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nakane A., Minagawa T., Kohanawa M., Chen Y., Sato H., Moriyama M., Tsuruoka N. Interactions between endogenous gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor in host resistance against primary and secondary Listeria monocytogenes infections. Infect Immun. 1989 Nov;57(11):3331–3337. doi: 10.1128/iai.57.11.3331-3337.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nakane A., Minagawa T., Yasuda I., Yu C., Kato K. Prevention by gamma interferon of fatal infection with Listeria monocytogenes in mice treated with cyclosporin A. Infect Immun. 1988 Aug;56(8):2011–2015. doi: 10.1128/iai.56.8.2011-2015.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nakane A., Numata A., Minagawa T. Endogenous tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, and gamma interferon levels during Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice. Infect Immun. 1992 Feb;60(2):523–528. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.2.523-528.1992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nakano Y., Onozuka K., Terada Y., Shinomiya H., Nakano M. Protective effect of recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha in murine salmonellosis. J Immunol. 1990 Mar 1;144(5):1935–1941. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nauciel C., Espinasse-Maes F. Role of gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha in resistance to Salmonella typhimurium infection. Infect Immun. 1992 Feb;60(2):450–454. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.2.450-454.1992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Perry R. D., Harmon P. A., Bowmer W. S., Straley S. C. A low-Ca2+ response operon encodes the V antigen of Yersinia pestis. Infect Immun. 1986 Nov;54(2):428–434. doi: 10.1128/iai.54.2.428-434.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Portnoy D. A., Moseley S. L., Falkow S. Characterization of plasmids and plasmid-associated determinants of Yersinia enterocolitica pathogenesis. Infect Immun. 1981 Feb;31(2):775–782. doi: 10.1128/iai.31.2.775-782.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Price S. B., Cowan C., Perry R. D., Straley S. C. The Yersinia pestis V antigen is a regulatory protein necessary for Ca2(+)-dependent growth and maximal expression of low-Ca2+ response virulence genes. J Bacteriol. 1991 Apr;173(8):2649–2657. doi: 10.1128/jb.173.8.2649-2657.1991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Price S. B., Leung K. Y., Barve S. S., Straley S. C. Molecular analysis of lcrGVH, the V antigen operon of Yersinia pestis. J Bacteriol. 1989 Oct;171(10):5646–5653. doi: 10.1128/jb.171.10.5646-5653.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rosqvist R., Bölin I., Wolf-Watz H. Inhibition of phagocytosis in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis: a virulence plasmid-encoded ability involving the Yop2b protein. Infect Immun. 1988 Aug;56(8):2139–2143. doi: 10.1128/iai.56.8.2139-2143.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rosqvist R., Forsberg A., Rimpiläinen M., Bergman T., Wolf-Watz H. The cytotoxic protein YopE of Yersinia obstructs the primary host defence. Mol Microbiol. 1990 Apr;4(4):657–667. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1990.tb00635.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rosqvist R., Forsberg A., Wolf-Watz H. Intracellular targeting of the Yersinia YopE cytotoxin in mammalian cells induces actin microfilament disruption. Infect Immun. 1991 Dec;59(12):4562–4569. doi: 10.1128/iai.59.12.4562-4569.1991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sample A. K., Brubaker R. R. Post-translational regulation of Lcr plasmid-mediated peptides in pesticinogenic Yersinia pestis. Microb Pathog. 1987 Oct;3(4):239–248. doi: 10.1016/0882-4010(87)90057-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sato K., Nakajima R., Hara F., Une T., Osada Y. Preparation of monoclonal antibody to V antigen from Yersinia pestis. Contrib Microbiol Immunol. 1991;12:225–229. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sodeinde O. A., Goguen J. D. Genetic analysis of the 9.5-kilobase virulence plasmid of Yersinia pestis. Infect Immun. 1988 Oct;56(10):2743–2748. doi: 10.1128/iai.56.10.2743-2748.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sodeinde O. A., Sample A. K., Brubaker R. R., Goguen J. D. Plasminogen activator/coagulase gene of Yersinia pestis is responsible for degradation of plasmid-encoded outer membrane proteins. Infect Immun. 1988 Oct;56(10):2749–2752. doi: 10.1128/iai.56.10.2749-2752.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Straley S. C., Bowmer W. S. Virulence genes regulated at the transcriptional level by Ca2+ in Yersinia pestis include structural genes for outer membrane proteins. Infect Immun. 1986 Feb;51(2):445–454. doi: 10.1128/iai.51.2.445-454.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Straley S. C., Brubaker R. R. Cytoplasmic and membrane proteins of yersiniae cultivated under conditions simulating mammalian intracellular environment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981 Feb;78(2):1224–1228. doi: 10.1073/pnas.78.2.1224. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Straley S. C., Cibull M. L. Differential clearance and host-pathogen interactions of YopE- and YopK- YopL- Yersinia pestis in BALB/c mice. Infect Immun. 1989 Apr;57(4):1200–1210. doi: 10.1128/iai.57.4.1200-1210.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Straley S. C., Harmon P. A. Yersinia pestis grows within phagolysosomes in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Infect Immun. 1984 Sep;45(3):655–659. doi: 10.1128/iai.45.3.655-659.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Towbin H., Staehelin T., Gordon J. Electrophoretic transfer of proteins from polyacrylamide gels to nitrocellulose sheets: procedure and some applications. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1979 Sep;76(9):4350–4354. doi: 10.1073/pnas.76.9.4350. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Une T., Brubaker R. R. In vivo comparison of avirulent Vwa- and Pgm- or Pstr phenotypes of yersiniae. Infect Immun. 1984 Mar;43(3):895–900. doi: 10.1128/iai.43.3.895-900.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Une T., Brubaker R. R. Roles of V antigen in promoting virulence and immunity in yersiniae. J Immunol. 1984 Oct;133(4):2226–2230. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Une T., Nakajima R., Brubaker R. R. Roles of V antigen in promoting virulence in Yersiniae. Contrib Microbiol Immunol. 1987;9:179–185. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Une T. Studies on the pathogenicity of Yersinia enterocolitica. II. Interaction with cultured cells in vitro. Microbiol Immunol. 1977;21(7):365–377. doi: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1977.tb00301.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Une T. Studies on the pathogenicity of Yersinia enterocolitica. III. Comparative studies between Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis. Microbiol Immunol. 1977;21(9):505–516. doi: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1977.tb00316.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wherry J. C., Schreiber R. D., Unanue E. R. Regulation of gamma interferon production by natural killer cells in scid mice: roles of tumor necrosis factor and bacterial stimuli. Infect Immun. 1991 May;59(5):1709–1715. doi: 10.1128/iai.59.5.1709-1715.1991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Williams D. M., Byrne G. I., Grubbs B., Marshal T. J., Schachter J. Role in vivo for gamma interferon in control of pneumonia caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in mice. Infect Immun. 1988 Nov;56(11):3004–3006. doi: 10.1128/iai.56.11.3004-3006.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Williams D. M., Magee D. M., Bonewald L. F., Smith J. G., Bleicker C. A., Byrne G. I., Schachter J. A role in vivo for tumor necrosis factor alpha in host defense against Chlamydia trachomatis. Infect Immun. 1990 Jun;58(6):1572–1576. doi: 10.1128/iai.58.6.1572-1576.1990. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wong J. F., Elberg S. S. Cellular immune response to Yersinia pestis modulated by product(s) from thymus-derived lymphocytes. J Infect Dis. 1977 Jan;135(1):67–78. doi: 10.1093/infdis/135.1.67. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Zahorchak R. J., Brubaker R. R. Effect of exogenous nucleotides on Ca2+ dependence and V antigen synthesis in Yersinia pestis. Infect Immun. 1982 Dec;38(3):953–959. doi: 10.1128/iai.38.3.953-959.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]