title: Streptococcal M1 protein-provoked CXC chemokine formation, neutrophil recruitment and lung damage are regulated by Rho-kinase signaling.
abstract: Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is frequently caused by Streptococcus pyogenes of the M1 serotype. The aim of this study was to determine the role of Ras-homologous (Rho)-kinase signaling in M1 protein-provoked lung damage. Male C57BL/6 mice received the Rho-kinase-specific inhibitor Y-27632 before administration of M1 protein. Edema, neutrophil accumulation and CXC chemokines were quantified in the lung 4 h after M1 protein challenge. Flow cytometry was used to determine Mac-1 expression. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to determine gene expression of CXC chemokine mRNA in alveolar macrophages. M1 protein increased neutrophil accumulation, edema and CXC chemokine formation in the lung as well as enhanced Mac-1 expression on neutrophils. Inhibition of Rho-kinase signaling significantly reduced M1 protein-provoked neutrophil accumulation and edema formation in the lung. M1 protein-triggered pulmonary production of CXC chemokine and gene expression of CXC chemokines in alveolar macrophages was decreased by Y-27632. Moreover, Rho-kinase inhibition attenuated M1 protein-induced Mac-1 expression on neutrophils. We conclude that Rho-kinase-dependent neutrophil infiltration controls pulmonary tissue damage in response to streptococcal M1 protein and that Rho-kinase signaling regulates M1 protein-induced lung recruitment of neutrophils via the formation of CXC chemokines and Mac-1 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Section for Surgery, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Songen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Milladur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herwald
authors.forename: Zhongquan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jeppsson
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thorlacius
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000276:immunology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; C442815:Mac-1-like protein, Streptococcus; C014689:streptococcal M protein; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases