Pneumolysin, a protein toxin of Streptococcus pneumoniae, induces nitric oxide production from macrophages.
Nitric oxide (NO) production by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) during inflammation is an essential element of antimicrobial immunity but can also contribute to host-induced tissue damage. Under conditions of bacterial sepsis, large amounts of NO are produced, causing hypotension, a critical pathological feature of septic shock. In sepsis caused by gram-positive organisms, the bacterial factors contributing to host NO production are poorly characterized. We show that a soluble toxin of Streptococcus pneumoniae, pneumolysin (Pln), is a key component initiating NO production from macrophages. In contrast to wild-type bacteria, a mutant of S. pneumoniae lacking Pln failed to elicit NO production from murine macrophages. Purified recombinant Pln induced NO production at low concentrations and independently of exogenous gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) priming of RAW 264.7 macrophages. However, IFN-gamma was essential for Pln-induced NO production, since primary macrophages from mice lacking the IFN-gamma receptor or interferon regulatory factor 1, a transcription factor essential for iNOS expression, failed to produce NO when stimulated with Pln. In addition, Pln acts as an agonist of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 production in macrophages. The properties of Pln, previously identified as a pore-forming hemolysin, also include a role as a general inflammatory agonist.
Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA. johann.braun@stjude.org
J S
JS
Braun
R
R
Novak
G
G
Gao
P J
PJ
Murray
J L
JL
Shenep
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013301:Streptolysins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D013301:Streptolysins; C032290:plY protein, Streptococcus pneumoniae; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse