title: The Poly-γ-D-Glutamic Acid Capsule ofBacillus licheniformis, a Surrogate ofBacillus anthracisCapsule Induces Interferon-Gamma Production in NK Cells through Interactions with Macrophages.
abstract: The poly-γ-D-glutamic acid (PGA) capsule, a major virulence factor ofBacillus anthracis, provides protection of the bacterium from phagocytosis and allows its unimpeded growth in the host. We investigated crosstalk between murine natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages stimulated with the PGA capsule ofBacillus licheniformis, a surrogate of theB. anthraciscapsule. PGA induced interferon-gamma production from NK cells cultured with macrophages. This effect was dependent on macrophage-derived IL-12 and cell-cell contact interaction with macrophages through NK cell receptor NKG2D and its ligand RAE-1. The results showed that PGA could enhance NK cell activation by inducing IL-12 production in macrophages and a contact-dependent crosstalk with macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Division of High-Risk Pathogen Research, Center for Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Ri
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of High-Risk Pathogen Research, Center for Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Division of High-Risk Pathogen Research, Center for Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gi-Eun
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Rhie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D000069976:Bacillus licheniformis / Q000737:chemistry*; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000187:drug effects*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D037521:Virulence Factors
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; C527086:Klrk1 protein, mouse; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D037521:Virulence Factors; C511775:poly(gamma-glutamic acid); D018664:Interleukin-12; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Bacillus anthracis; NK cells; interferon gamma; macrophages; poly-r-D-glutamic acid