Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1979 Jan;23(1):61–67. doi: 10.1128/iai.23.1.61-67.1979

Growth of Rickettsia typhi in irradiated L cells enhanced by lysosomal stabilization.

D R Woodman, W W Schultz, K L Woodman, E Weiss
PMCID: PMC550690  PMID: 106007

Abstract

The growth of some obligate intracellular parasites is contingent upon avoidance of lysosomal activation during growth in their host cells. This is accomplished by the various parasites by different mechanisms and with different degrees of efficiency. The possibility was tested that the lysosomal stabilizer cortisone acetate might protect and thus enhance the growth of Rickettsia typhi in mouse L cells irradiated 6 days earlier. Beginning 2 days before infection of the L cells with a multiplicity of 10 rickettsiae, 20 microgram of cortisone per ml was added in medium 199 containing 5% fetal calf serum. This concentration of cortisone was below the cytotoxic level, as determined by viability staining, but was sufficient to significantly alter the ratios of cellular and released acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase in uninfected and infected cells, as shown by spectrophotometric analysis. Rickettsial replication, measured by hemolytic activity at 96 h and confirmed by microscopic observations at earlier stages of infection, was increased by the cortisone. Cortisone concentrations of 10 or 40 microgram/ml were less effective, and cortisone was ineffective when the rickettsial multiplicity per L cell was 2 or lower. These results indicate that amounts of cortisone that increase lysosomal stabilization in L cells favor rickettsial multiplication when the multiplicity of infection is relatively high.

Full text

PDF
61

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ALLISON A. C., SANDELIN K. Activation of lysosomal enzymes in virus-infected cells and its possible relationship to cytopathic effects. J Exp Med. 1963 Jun 1;117:879–887. doi: 10.1084/jem.117.6.879. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Amako K., Dales S. Cytopathology of Mengovirus infection. I. Relationship between cellular disintegration and virulence. Virology. 1967 Jun;32(2):184–200. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(67)90269-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BOYER G. S., LEUCHTENBERGER C., GINSBERG H. S. Cytological and cytochemical studies of HeLa cells infected with adeno-viruses. J Exp Med. 1957 Mar 1;105(3):195–216. doi: 10.1084/jem.105.3.195. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bushell A. C., Hobson D. Effect of cortisol on the growth of Chlamydia trachomatis in McCoy cells. Infect Immun. 1978 Sep;21(3):946–953. doi: 10.1128/iai.21.3.946-953.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. COHN Z. A., BOZEMAN F. M., CAMPBELL J. M., HUMPHRIES J. W., SAWYER T. K. Study on growth of Rickettsia. V. Penetration of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi into mammalian cells in vitro. J Exp Med. 1959 Mar 1;109(3):271–292. doi: 10.1084/jem.109.3.271. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Chang G. T., Moulder J. W. Loss of inorganic ions from host cells infected with Chlamydia psittaci. Infect Immun. 1978 Mar;19(3):827–832. doi: 10.1128/iai.19.3.827-832.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. GIMENEZ D. F. STAINING RICKETTSIAE IN YOLK-SAC CULTURES. Stain Technol. 1964 May;39:135–140. doi: 10.3109/10520296409061219. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gambrill M. R., Wisseman C. L., Jr Mechanisms of immunity in typhus infections. I. Multiplication of typhus rickettsiae in human macrophage cell cultures in the nonimmune system: influence of virulence of rickettsial strains and of chloramphenicol. Infect Immun. 1973 Oct;8(4):519–527. doi: 10.1128/iai.8.4.519-527.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Goldstein I. M. Effect of steroids on lysosomes. Transplant Proc. 1975 Mar;7(1):21–24. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Guskey L. E., Smith P. C., Wolff D. A. Patterns of cytopathology and lysosomal enzyme release in poliovirus-infected HEp-2 cells treated with either 2-(alpha-hydroxybenzyl)-benzimidazole or guanidine HCl. J Gen Virol. 1970 Jan;6(1):151–161. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-6-1-151. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Moulder J. W. Intracellular parasitism: life in an extreme environment. J Infect Dis. 1974 Sep;130(3):300–306. doi: 10.1093/infdis/130.3.300. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Rabinovitch M. Phagocytosis: the engulfment stage. Semin Hematol. 1968 Apr;5(2):134–155. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Reeves M. W., Chang G. C. Studies on lysosomal acid phosphatase in virus infected HEp-2 cells. Microbios. 1971 Dec;4(15):167–179. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Reynolds C., Wills E. D. The effect of irradiation on lysosomal activation in HeLa cells. Int J Radiat Biol Relat Stud Phys Chem Med. 1974 Feb;25(2):113–120. doi: 10.1080/09553007414550131. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. SNYDER J. C., BOVARNICK M. R., MILLER J. C., CHANG R. S. M. Observations on the hemolytic properties of typhus rickettsiae. J Bacteriol. 1954 Jun;67(6):724–730. doi: 10.1128/jb.67.6.724-730.1954. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. STEWART R. B. The effect of cortisone on the lethality of psittacosis virus for the chick embryo. J Infect Dis. 1958 Sep-Oct;103(2):129–134. doi: 10.1093/infdis/103.2.129. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Sato K., Righthand F., Karzon D. T. Effect of host cell on distribution of a lysosomal enzyme during virus infection. J Virol. 1971 Apr;7(4):467–472. doi: 10.1128/jvi.7.4.467-472.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Schultz W. W., Bang F. B. Virus-induced lysosomal enzyme dissolution of nasal turbinate cartilage. Am J Pathol. 1977 Jun;87(3):667–684. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Taverne J., Blyth W. A., Ballard R. C. Interactions of TRIC agents with macrophages: effects on lysosomal enzymes of the cell. J Hyg (Lond) 1974 Apr;72(2):297–309. doi: 10.1017/s0022172400023512. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Underwood P. A. Herpes simplex infection of HEp-2 and L-929 cells. 4. The effect of lysosomal inhibitors. Microbios. 1972 Aug-Sep;6(21):7–22. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. WEISSMANN G. LABILIZATION AND STABILIZATION OF LYSOSOMES. Fed Proc. 1964 Sep-Oct;23:1038–1044. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. WHITMIRE C. E., DOWNS C. M. Effects of cortisone on experimental murine typhus. II. Effect of cortisone on the comparative susceptibility of laboratory animals to infection with murine typhus. J Bacteriol. 1957 Oct;74(4):425–431. doi: 10.1128/jb.74.4.425-431.1957. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. WHITMIRE C. E. Effects of cortisone on experimental murine typhus. I. Susceptibility of the Syrian hamster to murine typhus and the effect of cortisone. J Bacteriol. 1957 Oct;74(4):417–424. doi: 10.1128/jb.74.4.417-424.1957. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Weiss E., Coolbaugh J. C., Williams J. C. Separation of viable Rickettsia typhi from yolk sac and L cell host components by renografin density gradient centrifugation. Appl Microbiol. 1975 Sep;30(3):456–463. doi: 10.1128/am.30.3.456-463.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Weiss E. Growth and physiology of rickettsiae. Bacteriol Rev. 1973 Sep;37(3):259–283. doi: 10.1128/br.37.3.259-283.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Weiss E., Newman L. W., Grays R., Green A. E. Metabolism of Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia akari in irradiated L cells. Infect Immun. 1972 Jul;6(1):50–57. doi: 10.1128/iai.6.1.50-57.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Winkler H. H. Rickettsial hemolysis: adsorption, desorption, readsorption, and hemagglutination. Infect Immun. 1977 Sep;17(3):607–612. doi: 10.1128/iai.17.3.607-612.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Wisseman C. L., Jr, Waddell A. D. In vitro studies on rickettsia-host cell interactions: intracellular growth cycle of virulent and attenuated Rickettsia prowazeki in chicken embryo cells in slide chamber cultures. Infect Immun. 1975 Jun;11(6):1391–1404. doi: 10.1128/iai.11.6.1391-1401.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Wisseman C. L., Jr, Waddell A. D., Silverman D. J. In vitro studies on Rickettsia-host cell interactions: lag phase in intracellular growth cycle as a function of stage of growth of infecting Rickettsia prowazeki, with preliminary observations on inhibition of rickettsial uptake by host cell fragments. Infect Immun. 1976 Jun;13(6):1749–1760. doi: 10.1128/iai.13.6.1749-1760.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Woodman D. R., Weiss E., Dasch G. A., Bozeman F. M. Biological properties of Rickettsia prowazekii strains isolated from flying squirrels. Infect Immun. 1977 Jun;16(3):853–860. doi: 10.1128/iai.16.3.853-860.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Wyrick P. B., Brownridge E. A., Ivins B. E. Interaction of Chlamydia psittaci with mouse peritoneal macrophages. Infect Immun. 1978 Mar;19(3):1061–1067. doi: 10.1128/iai.19.3.1061-1067.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infection and Immunity are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES