Anaplasma phagocytophilum modulates gp91phox gene expression through altered interferon regulatory factor 1 and PU.1 levels and binding of CCAAT displacement protein.
Infection of neutrophil precursors with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the causative agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, results in downregulation of the gp91(phox) gene, a key component of NADPH oxidase. We now show that repression of gp91(phox) gene transcription is associated with reduced expression of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) and PU.1 in nuclear extracts of A. phagocytophilum-infected cells. Loss of PU.1 and IRF-1 correlated with increased binding of the repressor, CCAAT displacement protein (CDP), to the promoter of the gp91(phox) gene. Reduced protein expression of IRF-1 was observed with or without gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) stimulation, and the defect in IFN-gamma signaling was associated with diminished binding of phosphorylated Stat1 to the Stat1 binding element of the IRF-1 promoter. The diminished levels of activator proteins and enhanced binding of CDP account for the transcriptional inhibition of the gp91(phox) gene during A. phagocytophilum infection, providing evidence of the first molecular mechanism that a pathogen uses to alter the regulation of genes that contribute to an effective respiratory burst.
Thomas
Venetta
V
Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, S525A, 300 Cedar St., P.O. Box 208031, New Haven, CT 06520-8031, USA.
Samanta
Swapna
S
Wu
Caiyun
C
Berliner
Nancy
N
Fikrig
Erol
E
D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000074662:NADPH Oxidase 2; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000099232:Proto-Oncogene Protein Spi-1
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D000074662:NADPH Oxidase 2; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099232:Proto-Oncogene Protein Spi-1; C080632:CUX1 protein, human; C494257:IRF1 protein, human; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; C056558:CYBB protein, human