title: Pseudomonas aeruginosa degrades pulmonary surfactant and increases conversion in vitro.
abstract: Although it is known that surfactant lipids and proteins are altered in patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, the mechanisms and implications of these alterations are not clear. In this study, the effects of P. aeruginosa on the surfactant large aggregate fraction were examined using an in vitro surface area cycling model. Large aggregates were isolated from porcine bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and incubated with supernatants from P. aeruginosa cultures (PAO1, parent strain; PAO1-A1, lasA-negative mutant; PAO1-B1, elastase-negative mutant) or purified elastase. Amounts of surfactant protein (SP)-A and SP-B, phospholipid content, and large aggregate conversion were assessed. In addition, lipid degradation was assessed by incubating a mixture of radiolabeled phospholipids with P. aeruginosa supernatants. The results demonstrated that SP-A was degraded by PAO1 and PAO1-A1 supernatants, and by purified elastase. SP-B was degraded by PAO1 and PAO1-B1 supernatants, but not by elastase. P. aeruginosa supernatants degraded phospholipids, a process inhibited by ZnCl(2). P. aeruginosa supernatants and elastase increased conversion. The data suggest that protein degradation facilitates increased conversion, and that phospholipid degradation and conversion enhance degradation of surfactant proteins. In conclusion, P. aeruginosa secretes multiple virulence factors that cooperate to result in degradation of surfactant components and alteration of large aggregate conversion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Alexis L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Beatty
authors.forename: Jaret L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Malloy
authors.forename: Jo Rae
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D010743:Phospholipids; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases