LasR-regulated proteases in acute vs. chronic lung infection: a double-edged sword

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative opportunistic pathogen capable of causing both acute and chronic infections, particularly in individuals with compromised host defenses. The quorum sensing transcriptional activator LasR is widely recognized for its role in regulating the expression of acute...

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Main Authors: Lisa C. Hennemann, Dao Nguyen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Shared Science Publishers OG 2021-05-01
Series:Microbial Cell
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Online Access:http://microbialcell.com/researcharticles/2021a-hennemann-microbial-cell/
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author Lisa C. Hennemann
Dao Nguyen
author_facet Lisa C. Hennemann
Dao Nguyen
author_sort Lisa C. Hennemann
collection DOAJ
description Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative opportunistic pathogen capable of causing both acute and chronic infections, particularly in individuals with compromised host defenses. The quorum sensing transcriptional activator LasR is widely recognized for its role in regulating the expression of acute virulence factors, notably several secreted proteases which cause direct host damage and subvert host immunity in acute infections. Paradoxically, lung infections caused by LasR-deficient variants, which are found in at least a third of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with chronic P. aeruginosa infections, are associated with accelerated lung disease and increased markers of inflammation compared to infections caused by strains with a functional LasR system. While the loss of LasR function often (although not always) results in impaired production of LasR-controlled acute virulence factors, the implication of this pathoadaptation on host-pathogen interactions and chronic disease pathology is less well recognized. We recently observed that loss of LasR function in lasR variants, which results in impaired secreted protease production, led to increased expression of the membrane-bound surface adhesion molecule mICAM-1 in the airway epithelium, and increased neutrophilic inflammation. Specifically, human airway epithelial cells stimulated with lasR variants had higher mICAM-1 expression and greater neutrophil binding in vitro compared to stimulation with wild-type P. aeruginosa. In a subacute non-lethal P. aeruginosa lung infection model, lasR variant infection also induced higher mICAM-1 expression in the murine airway epithelium and was associated with increased neutrophilic pulmonary inflammation in vivo. Here, we discuss how (loss of) LasR function and LasR-regulated proteases affect host immunity, inflammation and tissue pathology in acute vs. chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection.
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spelling doaj-art-bf733dd3d4ca4b6ba406f41ea8b0d0952025-08-20T02:53:21ZengShared Science Publishers OGMicrobial Cell2311-26382021-05-018716116310.15698/mic2021.07.755LasR-regulated proteases in acute vs. chronic lung infection: a double-edged swordLisa C. Hennemann0Dao Nguyen1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative opportunistic pathogen capable of causing both acute and chronic infections, particularly in individuals with compromised host defenses. The quorum sensing transcriptional activator LasR is widely recognized for its role in regulating the expression of acute virulence factors, notably several secreted proteases which cause direct host damage and subvert host immunity in acute infections. Paradoxically, lung infections caused by LasR-deficient variants, which are found in at least a third of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with chronic P. aeruginosa infections, are associated with accelerated lung disease and increased markers of inflammation compared to infections caused by strains with a functional LasR system. While the loss of LasR function often (although not always) results in impaired production of LasR-controlled acute virulence factors, the implication of this pathoadaptation on host-pathogen interactions and chronic disease pathology is less well recognized. We recently observed that loss of LasR function in lasR variants, which results in impaired secreted protease production, led to increased expression of the membrane-bound surface adhesion molecule mICAM-1 in the airway epithelium, and increased neutrophilic inflammation. Specifically, human airway epithelial cells stimulated with lasR variants had higher mICAM-1 expression and greater neutrophil binding in vitro compared to stimulation with wild-type P. aeruginosa. In a subacute non-lethal P. aeruginosa lung infection model, lasR variant infection also induced higher mICAM-1 expression in the murine airway epithelium and was associated with increased neutrophilic pulmonary inflammation in vivo. Here, we discuss how (loss of) LasR function and LasR-regulated proteases affect host immunity, inflammation and tissue pathology in acute vs. chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection.http://microbialcell.com/researcharticles/2021a-hennemann-microbial-cell/pseudomonas aeruginosacystic fibrosisairway epitheliumquorum sensinglasrneutrophilic inflammationsecreted proteaseshost pathoadaptation
spellingShingle Lisa C. Hennemann
Dao Nguyen
LasR-regulated proteases in acute vs. chronic lung infection: a double-edged sword
Microbial Cell
pseudomonas aeruginosa
cystic fibrosis
airway epithelium
quorum sensing
lasr
neutrophilic inflammation
secreted proteases
host pathoadaptation
title LasR-regulated proteases in acute vs. chronic lung infection: a double-edged sword
title_full LasR-regulated proteases in acute vs. chronic lung infection: a double-edged sword
title_fullStr LasR-regulated proteases in acute vs. chronic lung infection: a double-edged sword
title_full_unstemmed LasR-regulated proteases in acute vs. chronic lung infection: a double-edged sword
title_short LasR-regulated proteases in acute vs. chronic lung infection: a double-edged sword
title_sort lasr regulated proteases in acute vs chronic lung infection a double edged sword
topic pseudomonas aeruginosa
cystic fibrosis
airway epithelium
quorum sensing
lasr
neutrophilic inflammation
secreted proteases
host pathoadaptation
url http://microbialcell.com/researcharticles/2021a-hennemann-microbial-cell/
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