Oxidation of macrophage membrane cholesterol by intracellular Rhodococcus equi.
Phagocytic uptake by cultured mouse macrophages (PD388D1) of a virulent strain (ATCC 33701) of Rhodococcus equi producing substantial cholesterol oxidase was accompanied by intracellular survival of the bacteria, and enzymatic oxidation of macrophage membrane cholesterol. A non-virulent strain (4219) lacking cholesterol oxidase was largely eliminated from the macrophages and did not bring about oxidation of membrane cholesterol. When R. equi 33701 was co-phagocytosed with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis there was a significant enhancement (10-fold) in the amount of oxidation product (4-cholesten-3-one) generated. R. equi and C. pseudotuberculosis are cooperative partners in the hemolysis of sheep erythrocytes, traceable to the cholesterol oxidase of the former, and phospholipase D of the latter. Results are discussed relative to the role of cooperative cytotoxins in damage to host tissue by bacterial pathogens.
Linder
R
R
School of Health Sciences, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York 10010, USA.
Bernheimer
A W
AW
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D002789:Cholesterol Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D016929:Rhodococcus equi / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013045:Species Specificity; D014774:Virulence
D016207:Cytokines; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol; D002789:Cholesterol Oxidase