The two-component sensor response regulator RoxS/RoxR plays a role in Pseudomonas aeruginosa interactions with airway epithelial cells.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that infects the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis causing aberrant and destructive neutrophil (PMN)-dominated inflammation of airways. Interaction of P. aeruginosa with the lung epithelial barrier resulting in trans-epithelial PMN migration likely represents a key event during PMN recruitment. To investigate bacterial factors involved in interactions with lung epithelial cells, a mutant library of two-component system response regulators was evaluated to identify mutants exhibiting defects in the ability to induce PMN trans-epithelial migration. Of forty-eight mutants, five reproducibly demonstrated a reduced PMN trans-epithelial migration response. All five mutants also exhibited a decreased ability to interact with lung epithelial cells. One mutant identified lacks the response regulator gene roxR, which has not previously been reported to be involved regulating factors that facilitate interactions with lung epithelial cells. This finding suggests that RoxR likely regulates genes with relevance to P. aeruginosa mediated lung disease.
Hurley
Bryan P
BP
Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown MA 02129, USA. bphurley@partners.org
Goodman
Andrew L
AL
Mumy
Karen L
KL
Murphy
Patrick
P
Lory
Stephen
S
McCormick
Beth A
BA
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D054441:Cell Migration Assays, Leukocyte; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006801:Humans; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D001426:Bacterial Proteins