Bordetella pertussis induces respiratory burst activity in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
Virulent Bordetella pertussis strains survive intracellularly within human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), at least in part because of inhibition of phagosome-lysosome fusion (L. L. Steed, M. Setareh, and R. L. Friedman, J. Leukocyte Biol. 50:321-330, 1991). Further investigations were done to determine if B. pertussis also inhibited respiratory burst activity of PMN as an additional mechanism of intracellular survival. Chemiluminescence and flow cytometry assays showed that B. pertussis induced significant levels of hydrogen peroxide production. In contrast, ferricytochrome c reduction showed that B. pertussis suppressed extracellular release of superoxide. PMN intracellular reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium verified that superoxide was indeed produced intracellularly during B. pertussis phagocytosis. Therefore, B. pertussis does not inhibit production of superoxide but inhibits only its release. Thus, while phagosome-lysosome fusion is inhibited by B. pertussis, respiratory burst activity of PMN occurs at normal levels.
Steed
L L
LL
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85724.
Akporiaye
E T
ET
Friedman
R L
RL
D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002459:Cell Fusion; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium / Q000378:metabolism; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000502:physiology; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000502:physiology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
D013481:Superoxides; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate