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Rolle des saure Sphingomyelinase/Ceramid-Systems bei Staphylococcus aureus Toxin-induziertem Lungenödem

Fachliche Zuordnung Parasitologie und Biologie der Erreger tropischer Infektionskrankheiten
Förderung Förderung von 2017 bis 2021
Projektkennung Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 242127429
 
Erstellungsjahr 2020

Zusammenfassung der Projektergebnisse

The present proposal aimed to investigate whether (i) Staphylococcus α-toxin mediates its cellular effects via the acid sphingomyelinase, (ii) to define the molecular mechanisms how α-toxin regulates the acid sphingomyelinase and (iii) to characterize the cellular effects of an activation of the acid sphingomyelinase by α-toxin. In our studies we were able to demonstrate that S. aureus α-toxin activates the acid sphingomyelinase via a pathway that involves ADAM-10, CD44 and oxygen radicals. In vivo studies revelaed that activation of the acid sphingomyelinase results in massive alterations of tight junctions in a septic mouse model. In addition, activation of the acid sphingomyelinase by α-toxin induces stimulation of the Rho-GTPase and a translocation of ezrin, radixin und moesin to the cell membrane. Infection of cystic fibrosis mice with a the wildtype strain of S. aureus resulted in a pneumonia, while S. aureus mutants that lack expression of α-toxin were much less pathogenic. We were also able to show that treatment of macrophages with α-toxin triggers the formation of ceramide within lysosomes. Lysosomal ceramide mediates a release of cathepsin B into the cytoplasm that in turn activates the inflammasome and a release of IL-1β. Further, we investigated the effects of a panel of other toxins on the acid sphingomyelinase: The results showed a rather specific activation of the acid sphingomyelinase by α-toxin. Studies on the mechanisms of the interaction between α-toxin and the acid sphingomyelinase finally revealed that membrane integration of staphylococcal α-toxin results in a recruitment of peripheral lysosomes to the host cell surface and a release of the acid sphingomyelinase. These results indicate that staphylococcal α-toxin triggers a membrane repair mechanism, during which acid sphingomyelinase is recruited to the extracellular leaflet of the cell membrane or released into the extracellular space.

Projektbezogene Publikationen (Auswahl)

 
 

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