Enhancement of reactive oxygen species production and chlamydial infection by the mitochondrial Nod-like family member NLRX1.
Chlamydia trachomatis infections cause severe and irreversible damage that can lead to infertility and blindness in both males and females. Following infection of epithelial cells, Chlamydia induces production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Unconventionally, Chlamydiae use ROS to their advantage by activating caspase-1, which contributes to chlamydial growth. NLRX1, a member of the Nod-like receptor family that translocates to the mitochondria, can augment ROS production from the mitochondria following Shigella flexneri infections. However, in general, ROS can also be produced by membrane-bound NADPH oxidases. Given the importance of ROS-induced caspase-1 activation in growth of the chlamydial vacuole, we investigated the sources of ROS production in epithelial cells following infection with C. trachomatis. In this study, we provide evidence that basal levels of ROS are generated during chlamydial infection by NADPH oxidase, but ROS levels, regardless of their source, are enhanced by an NLRX1-dependent mechanism. Significantly, the presence of NLRX1 is required for optimal chlamydial growth.
Health Sciences Research Institute and School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, California 95343, USA.
Ali A
AA
Abdul-Sater
Najwane
N
Saïd-Sadier
Verissa M
VM
Lam
Bhavni
B
Singh
Matthew A
MA
Pettengill
Fraser
F
Soares
Ivan
I
Tattoli
Simone
S
Lipinski
Stephen E
SE
Girardin
Philip
P
Rosenstiel
David M
DM
Ojcius
D000818:Animals; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D016086:Lentivirus / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000737:chemistry; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012763:Shigella flexneri / Q000378:metabolism
D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; C527006:NLRX1 protein, human; C555655:NLRX1 protein, mouse; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D020170:Caspase 1