The Role of Mcl-1 inS. aureus-Induced Cytoprotection of Infected Macrophages
As a facultative intracellular pathogen,Staphylococcus aureusinvades macrophages and then promotes the cytoprotection of infected cells thus stabilizing safe niche for silent persistence. This process occurs through the upregulation of crucial antiapoptotic genes, in particular,myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1). Here, we investigated the underlying mechanism and signal transduction pathways leading to increasedMCL-1expression in infected macrophages. LiveS. aureusnot only stimulatedde novosynthesis of Mcl-1, but also prolonged the stability of this antiapoptotic protein. Consistent with this, we proved a crucial role of Mcl-1 inS. aureus-induced cytoprotection, since silencing ofMCL1by siRNA profoundly reversed the cytoprotection of infected cells leading to apoptosis. IncreasedMCL1expression in infected cells was associated with enhanced NFκB activation and subsequent IL-6 secretion, since the inhibition of both NFκB and IL-6 signalling pathways abrogated Mcl-1 induction and cytoprotection. Finally, we confirmed our observationin vivoin murine model of septic arthritis showing the association between the severity of arthritis and Mcl-1 expression. Therefore, we propose thatS. aureusis hijacking the Mcl-1-dependent inhibition of apoptosis to prevent the elimination of infected host cells, thus allowing the intracellular persistence of the pathogen, its dissemination by infected macrophages, and the progression of staphylococci diseases.