scholarly journals Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells Increases the Susceptibility of Macrophages to Infection with Coxiella burnetii Phase II through Down-Modulation of Nitric Oxide Production

2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 2075-2080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario S. Zamboni ◽  
Michel Rabinovitch

ABSTRACT Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever in humans and coxiellosis in other mammals, is an obligate intracellular bacterium which is sheltered and multiplies within typically large phagolysosome-like replicative vacuoles (LRVs). We have previously shown that, compared with fibroblasts, mouse resident peritoneal macrophages control the development of LRVs and bacterial multiplication within these vacuoles. Earlier experiments with the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor aminoguanidine (AG) revealed that the control is exerted by NO induced by the bacteria. We report here that phagocytosis of apoptotic-like, but not of aldehyde-killed, lymphocytes by the macrophages reduced the production of NO induced by the bacteria and increased the development of LRVs and, therefore, the total bacterial load in the cultures. Experiments with macrophages from mice deficient for inducible NO synthase (iNOS−/−) confirmed the involvement of NO in the control of infection, since neither apoptotic lymphocytes nor AG affected the development of LRVs in these phagocytes. Since macrophages are important for the clearance of apoptotic bodies and C. burnetii is able to induce apoptosis in human monocytes, the phenomenon shown here may be biologically relevant to the development of Q fever and coxiellosis.

2003 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 1225-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario S. Zamboni ◽  
Michel Rabinovitch

ABSTRACT In most primary or continuous cell cultures infected with the Q-fever agent Coxiella burnetii, bacteria are typically sheltered in phagolysosome-like, large replicative vacuoles (LRVs). We recently reported that only a small proportion of mouse peritoneal macrophages (PMΦ) infected with a nonvirulent, phase II strain of C. burnetii developed LRVs and that their relative bacterial load increased only slowly. In the majority of infected PMΦ, the bacteria were confined to the small vesicles. We show here that nitric oxide (NO) induced by the bacteria partially accounts for the restricted development of LRVs in primary macrophages. Thus, (i) PMΦ and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMΦ) challenged with phase II C. burnetii produced significant amounts of NO; (ii) the NO synthase inhibitors aminoguanidine and N-methyl-l-arginine reduced the production of NO and increased the frequency of LRVs (although the relative bacterial loads of individual LRVs did not change, the estimated loads per well increased appreciably); (iii) gamma interferon (IFN-γ) or the NO donor sodium nitroprusside, added to BMMΦ prior to or after infection, reduced the development and the relative bacterial loads of LRVs and lowered the yield of viable bacteria recovered from the cultures; and (iv) these effects of IFN-γ may not be entirely dependent on the production of NO since IFN-γ also controlled the infection in macrophages from inducible NO synthase knockout mice. It remains to be determined whether NO reduced the development of LRVs by acting directly on the bacteria; by acting on the traffic, fusion, or fission of cell vesicles; or by a combination of these mechanisms.


Author(s):  
Ayse Kilic ◽  
Hakan Kalender

Q fever is a zoonotic disease that occurs worldwide and is caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Infected animals are usually asymptomatic, but infection can cause abortion and stillbirth in ruminants. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate prevalance of Coxiella burnetii infection in aborted and nonaborted sheep serum samples in Eastern Anatolia region by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The determine of prevalance in sheep flocks from four provinces (Elazig, Malatya, Tunceli, Bitlis) and tested for anti-C.burnetii antibody detection, by means of Chekit Q fever Elisa kit. 350 serum samples obtained from flocks belonging aborted sheep showed that a total of 56 (16%) were detected seropositivity, whereas 171 serum samples obtained from nonaborted sheep flocks in 13 of the 171 (7.60%) for C.burnetii in seropositivity were observed. Coxiellosis should be considered an important cause of sheep with abortion history and nonaborted in Elazig and neighboring provinces.


2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Robert Norton

Q fever is a zoonosis caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. North Queensland has some of the highest rates of Q fever notifications in Australia. The clinical diagnosis of Q fever can be difficult with non-specific symptoms. Up to 5% of cases will develop chronic Q fever with a high likelihood of endocarditis. Diagnosis is essentially by serology. In North Queensland cases have clustered in relatively new, semi-rural suburbs which lie adjacent to native bushland. Native mammals are attracted to new growth in these cleared areas, particularly after the wet season. There is little or no occupational contact with traditional sources of Q fever such as cattle. Seroprevalence studies on native mammals have shown higher levels of seropositivity in native mammals than in cattle. It is postulated that the increase in human cases seen from these areas are a direct effect of interaction between native mammals and humans. Further studies on environmental sampling is currently under way.


2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 1800-1808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amélie Honstettre ◽  
Soraya Meghari ◽  
Jacques A. Nunès ◽  
Hubert Lepidi ◽  
Didier Raoult ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Q fever is an infectious disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, an obligate intracellular bacterium that replicates in macrophages. As cell-mediated immune response to microbial pathogens requires signals mediated by T-cell receptors and costimulatory molecules such as CD28, we wondered if CD28 is involved in protection against C. burnetii infection. CD28-deficient (CD28−/−) mice were inoculated with C. burnetii by intraperitoneal and intravenous routes. With both wild-type and CD28−/− mice, C. burnetii organisms were detected exclusively in spleen and liver. The antibody response against C. burnetii was impaired in CD28−/− animals, but, surprisingly, the lack of CD28 decreased C. burnetii burden in the infected tissues, whatever the manner of inoculation of bacteria. The CD28 deficiency had no effect on either granuloma formation, which reflects cell-mediated immunity against C. burnetii, or the production of gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor, two cytokines known to be involved in granuloma formation. On the other hand, the production of interleukin-10 (IL-10) by peritoneal macrophages was highly impaired in CD28−/− mice. The results suggest that CD28 initiates a signal that favors C. burnetii replication through the modulation of the IL-10 pathway.


1993 ◽  
Vol 264 (4) ◽  
pp. G678-G685
Author(s):  
J. G. Jin ◽  
S. Misra ◽  
J. R. Grider ◽  
G. M. Makhlouf

The mechanism of action of endogenous tachykinins [substance P (SP) and neurokinin A and B (NKA and NKB)] and of receptor-specific tachykinin analogues (SP methyl ester (SPME), [beta-Ala8]NKA-(4-10), and senktide) was examined in circular muscle of guinea pig stomach. Cross-desensitization studies confirmed that SPME and SP interacted with NK-1 receptors, [beta-Ala8]NKA-(4-10) and NKA with NK-2 receptors, and senktide and NKB with NK-3 receptors. NK-1 and NK-3-receptor agonists induced relaxation and stimulated vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) release and nitric oxide (NO) production: tetrodotoxin abolished VIP release, NO production, and relaxation, converting the response to NK-1-receptor agonists to contraction; the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) abolished NO production, partly inhibited VIP release (56-64%, P < 0.01), and abolished relaxation; the VIP antagonist VIP-(10-28) partly inhibited NO production (73-74%, P < 0.001) and relaxation (56-58%, P < 0.01); and atropine augmented relaxation by 28-35% (P < 0.01). The pattern of inhibition implied that: 1) relaxation was mediated by VIP and NO; 2) VIP release was partly dependent on NO production, since it was strongly inhibited by L-NNA; and 3) NO was largely produced by the action of VIP on muscle cells, since it was strongly inhibited by VIP-(10-28). NK-2-receptor agonists elicited only contraction that was not affected by tetrodotoxin; these agonists also inhibited VIP release, NO production, and relaxation induced by NK-1- and NK-3-receptor agonists.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Hypertension ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastiaan Wesseling ◽  
Joost O Fledderus ◽  
Johanna A Dijk ◽  
Chantal Tilburgs ◽  
Marianne C Verhaar ◽  
...  

Chronic nitric oxide (NO) depletion induces hypertension and renal damage. Chronic kidney disease is associated with decreased NO availability and less renal H 2 S production. We hypothesized that combined depletion of NO and H 2 S aggravates hypertension and renal injury. Male 8-wk old Sprague Dawley rats were treated with vehicle, NO synthase inhibitor L-NG-nitroarginine (LNNA; 125 mg/L in drinking water), cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) inhibitor propargylglycine (PAG; 37.5 mg/kg BW ip daily) or LNNA + PAG for 1 and 4 weeks (6 rats/group). LNNA after 4w increased systolic blood pressure (SBP; 223±10 vs . 137±3 mmHg in controls; P<0.01), proteinuria (144±35 vs. 17±2 mg/d; P<0.01), uremia (16.6±4.2 vs . 7.0±0.4 mmol/L; P<0.05) and tubulo-interstitial injury (P<0.01). LNNA reduced urinary NO metabolite (NOx) excretion by ∼85% after 1w and 4w. PAG alone had no effect on SBP, renal function or injury, but did reduce urinary NOx excretion. Co-treatment with PAG ameliorated LNNA-induced hypertension (182±10 mmHg; P<0.01) and prevented proteinuria (27±3 mg/d), uremia (8.3±0.4 mmol/L) and tubulo-interstitial injury, but did not further reduce urinary NOx excretion. Renal H 2 S production was almost absent in all PAG groups after 1w and 4w (P<0.01) and was reduced in LNNA-treated rats after 4w (4.6±1.4 vs . 9.2±0.5 μmol/hr/mg; P<0.01). Renal HO-1 gene expression was strongly induced in all PAG-treated groups after 1w and 4w (4 to 19-fold; P<0.01) whereas LNNA only increased HO-1 gene expression at 4w (P<0.01). Immunohistochemistry showed that renal HO-1 protein was primarily interstitial in all PAG-treated groups at 1w and 4w. In contrast, LNNA only showed HO-1 in tubular epithelium in conjunction with protein casts. Depleting NO caused hypertension and renal damage followed by reduced renal H 2 S production and increased renal HO-1 expression. Surprisingly, concomitant inhibition of CSE ameliorated hypertension and prevented renal injury. PAG almost completely blocked renal H 2 S production and caused strong induction of renal HO-1, independently of injury, suggesting that H 2 S suppresses renal HO-1 expression. In conclusion, concomitant upregulation of HO-1 expression by inhibition of H 2 S production, prevents LNNA-induced hypertension and renal injury.


1993 ◽  
Vol 264 (2) ◽  
pp. H464-H469 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Breslow ◽  
J. R. Tobin ◽  
D. S. Bredt ◽  
C. D. Ferris ◽  
S. H. Snyder ◽  
...  

To determine whether nitric oxide (NO) is involved in adrenal medullary vasodilation during splanchnic nerve stimulation (NS)-induced catecholamine secretion, blood flow (Q) and secretory responses were measured in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs before and after administration of the NO synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). L-NAME (40 mg/kg iv over 5 min, followed by 40 mg.kg-1.h-1) reduced NO synthase activity of medullary and cortical homogenates from 5.2 +/- 0.3 to 0.7 +/- 0.1 pmol.min-1.mg protein-1 and from 1.2 +/- 0.2 pmol.min-1.mg protein-1 to undetectable levels, respectively. L-NAME reduced resting medullary and cortical Q by 42 and 60%, respectively. NS before L-NAME increased medullary Q from 181 +/- 16 to 937 +/- 159 ml.min-1.100 g-1 and epinephrine secretion from 1.9 +/- 0.8 to 781 +/- 331 ng/min. NS after L-NAME had no effect on medullary Q (103 +/- 14 vs. 188 +/- 34 ml.min-1.100 g-1), while epinephrine secretion increased to the same extent as in control animals (1.9 +/- 0.7 vs. 576 +/- 250 ng/min). L-NAME also unmasked NS-induced cortical vasoconstriction; cortical Q decreased from 96 +/- 8 to 50 +/- 5 ml.min-1.100 g-1. Administration of hexamethonium (30 mg/kg iv), a nicotinic receptor antagonist, reduced NS-induced epinephrine secretion by 90%. These data suggest independent neural control of medullary Q and catecholamine secretion, the former by NO and the latter by acetylcholine.


2005 ◽  
Vol 152 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquín Ortega ◽  
José M Vila ◽  
María Dolores Mauricio ◽  
Gloria Segarra ◽  
Pascual Medina ◽  
...  

Objective: We studied the intervention of nitric oxide (NO), prostacyclin and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) in mediating responses to acetylcholine in thyroid arteries from euthyroid and methimazole-treated (MT) patients. Design and methods: Branches of the superior thyroid artery were obtained from 19 euthyroid patients and 17 MT patients (euthyroid at the time of surgery) undergoing total thyroidectomy or hemithyroidectomy. Artery rings were suspended in organ baths for isometric recording of tension. Results and conclusions: Acetylcholine caused endothelium-dependent relaxation of greater magnitude in arteries from MT patients (pD2 (−log EC50) values were 7.68±0.19 in euthyroid and 8.17±0.26 in MT patients, P <0.05). The relaxation was unaffected by indomethacin and was partially reduced by the NO-synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA). This reduction was higher in arteries from MT patients (50±6%) as compared with euthyroid patients (36±6%) (P <0.05). Inhibition of K+ channels using apamin combined with charybdotoxin or high K+ solution abolished the relaxation resistance to l-NMMA and indomethacin. The maximal contraction response to noradrenaline (as a percentage of the response to 100 mM KCl) was lower in MT than in euthyroid patients (57±10 and 96±8 respectively, P < 0.05). The hyporesponsiveness to noradrenaline in arteries from MT patients was corrected by l-NMMA. The results indicate that: (i) thyroid arteries from MT patients show an increased relaxation response to acethylcholine and a decreased contraction response to noradrenaline due to overproduction of NO; (ii) EDHF plays a prominent role in acetylcholine-induced relaxation through activation of Ca2+-activated K+ channels; (iii) the abnormal endothelium-dependent responses in arteries from MT patients are not corrected by medical treatment.


1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (2) ◽  
pp. G207-G214 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Rodriguez-Membrilla ◽  
V. Martinez ◽  
M. Jimenez ◽  
E. Gonalons ◽  
P. Vergara

The main objective was to study the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the conversion of migrating myoelectric complexes (MMC) to the irregular electrical activity characteristic of the postprandial state. Both rats and chickens were implanted with electrodes for electromyography in the small intestine. Intravenous infusion of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), a NO synthase inhibitor, induced an organized MMC-like pattern in fed rats. Infusion of sodium nitroprusside, a NO donor, disrupted the MMC, inducing a postprandial-like motor pattern in fasting rats. Similarly, in chickens L-NNA mimicked the fasting pattern, consisting of a shortening of phase II, enlargement of phase III, orad displacement of the origin of the MMC, and an increase in the speed of phase III propagation. An inhibition of NO synthesis seems to be involved in the induction of the fasting motor pattern, whereas an increase of NO mediates the occurrence of the fed pattern. It is suggested that NO might be the final mediator in the control of small intestine motor patterns.


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