title: Subversion and utilization of the host cell cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate/protein kinase A pathway by Brucella during macrophage infection.
abstract: Brucella spp. are intramacrophage pathogens that induce chronic infections in a wide range of mammals, including domestic animals and humans. Therefore, the macrophage response to infection has important consequences for both the survival of phagocytosed bacteria and the further development of host immunity. However, very little is known about the macrophage cell signaling pathways initiated upon infection and the virulence strategy that Brucella use to counteract these responses and secure their survival. In a previous study, we have shown that macrophages activated by SR141716A, a ligand of the cannabinoid receptor CB1, acquired the capacity to control Brucella and observed that the CB1 receptor-triggering engages the microbicidal activity of phagocytes. To analyze the perturbation of cell signaling pathway during macrophage infection by Brucella, we hypothesized that SR141716A provides cell signaling that interferes with the bacterial message leading to inhibition of macrophage functions. As CB1 receptor belongs to the family of G protein-linked receptors, we explored the cAMP signaling pathway. In this study, we show that the CB1 ligand inhibited the bacteria-induced cell signaling. Taking advantage of this result, we then demonstrated that Brucella infection elicited a rapid activation of the cAMP/protein kinase A pathway. This activation resulted in a prolonged phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB. We finally demonstrate that the activation of the cAMP/protein kinase A pathway is crucial for the survival and establishment of Brucella within macrophages. For the first time in phagocytes, we thus characterized a primordial virulence strategy of Brucella involving the host signaling pathway, a novel point of immune intervention of this virulent pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unité 431, IFR 56, University of Montpellier II, Montpellier, France. gross@univ-montp2.fr
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Monsif
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouaboula
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Casellas
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Liautard
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dornand
mesh_terms: D041021:Brucella suis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D020536:Enzyme Activators / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077285:Rimonabant; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014774:Virulence / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D020536:Enzyme Activators; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007546:Isoquinolines; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; C063509:N-(2-(4-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide; D000077285:Rimonabant