title: Group B Streptococcus induces apoptosis in macrophages.
abstract: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a pathogen that has developed some strategies to resist host immune defenses. Because phagocytic killing is an important pathogenetic mechanism for bacteria, we investigated whether GBS induces apoptosis in murine macrophages. GBS type III strain COH31 r/s (GBS-III) first causes a defect in cell membrane permeability, then at 24 h, apoptosis. Apoptosis was confirmed by several techniques based on morphological changes and DNA fragmentation. Cytochalasin D does not affect apoptosis, suggesting that GBS-III needs not be within the macrophage cytoplasm to promote apoptosis. Inhibition of host protein synthesis prevents apoptosis, whereas inhibition of caspase-1 or -3, does not. Therefore, GBS can trigger an apoptotic pathway independent of caspase-1 and -3, but dependent on protein synthesis. Inhibition of apoptosis by EGTA and PMA, and enhancement of apoptosis by calphostin C and GF109203X suggests that an increase in the cytosolic calcium level and protein kinase C activity status are important in GBS-induced apoptosis. Neither alteration of plasma membrane permeability nor apoptosis were induced by GBS grown in conditions impeding hemolysin expression or when we used dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, which inhibited GBS beta-hemolytic activity, suggesting that GBS beta-hemolysin could be involved in apoptosis. beta-Hemolysin, by causing membrane permeability defects, could allow calcium influx, which initiates macrophage apoptosis. GBS also induces apoptosis in human monocytes but not in tumor lines demonstrating the specificity of its activity. This study suggests that induction of macrophage apoptosis by GBS is a novel strategy to overcome host immune defenses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fettucciari
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scaringi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cornacchione
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Migliorati
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sabatini
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fetriconi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marconi
mesh_terms: D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D021461:Animals, Outbred Strains; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000276:immunology; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C071495:streptococcal group B hemolysin; D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine; D003513:Cycloheximide; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D002118:Calcium