PE_PGRS represent a large family of proteins typical of pathogenic mycobacteria whose members are characterized by an N-terminal PE domain followed by a large Gly-Ala repeat-rich C-terminal domain. Despite the abundance of PE_PGRS-coding genes in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) genome their role and function in the biology and pathogenesis still remains elusive. In this study, we generated and characterized an Mtb H37Rv mutant (MtbΔ33) in which the structural gene of PE_PGRS33, a prototypical member of the protein family, was inactivated. We showed that this mutant entered macrophages with an efficiency up to ten times lower than parental or complemented strains, while its efficiency in infecting pneumocytes remained unaffected. Interestingly, the lack of PE_PGRS33 did not affect the intracellular growth of this mutant in macrophages. Using a series of functional deletion mutants of the PE_PGRS33 gene to complement the MtbΔ33 strain, we demonstrated that the PGRS domain is required to mediate cell entry into macrophages, with the key domain encompassing position 140-260 amino acids of PE_PGRS33. PE_PGRS33-mediated entry into macrophages was abolished in TLR2-deficient mice, as well as following treatment with wortmannin or an antibody against the complement receptor 3 (CR3), indicating that PE_PGRS33-mediated entry of Mtb in macrophages occurs through interaction with TLR2.

Palucci, I., Camassa, S., Cascioferro, A., Sali, M., Anoosheh, S., Zumbo, A., Minerva, M., Iantomasi, R., De Maio, F., Di Sante, G., Ria, F., Sanguinetti, M., Palù, G., Brennan, M. J., Manganelli, R., Delogu, G., PE_PGRS33 Contributes to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Entry in Macrophages through Interaction with TLR2, <<PLOS ONE>>, 2016; 11 (3): e0150800-e0150800. [doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150800] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/73661]

PE_PGRS33 Contributes to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Entry in Macrophages through Interaction with TLR2

Palucci, Ivana
Primo
;
Sali, Michela;Zumbo, Antonella;Minerva, Mariachiara;Iantomasi, Raffaella;De Maio, Flavio;Di Sante, Gabriele;Ria, Francesco;Sanguinetti, Maurizio;Delogu, Giovanni
Ultimo
2016

Abstract

PE_PGRS represent a large family of proteins typical of pathogenic mycobacteria whose members are characterized by an N-terminal PE domain followed by a large Gly-Ala repeat-rich C-terminal domain. Despite the abundance of PE_PGRS-coding genes in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) genome their role and function in the biology and pathogenesis still remains elusive. In this study, we generated and characterized an Mtb H37Rv mutant (MtbΔ33) in which the structural gene of PE_PGRS33, a prototypical member of the protein family, was inactivated. We showed that this mutant entered macrophages with an efficiency up to ten times lower than parental or complemented strains, while its efficiency in infecting pneumocytes remained unaffected. Interestingly, the lack of PE_PGRS33 did not affect the intracellular growth of this mutant in macrophages. Using a series of functional deletion mutants of the PE_PGRS33 gene to complement the MtbΔ33 strain, we demonstrated that the PGRS domain is required to mediate cell entry into macrophages, with the key domain encompassing position 140-260 amino acids of PE_PGRS33. PE_PGRS33-mediated entry into macrophages was abolished in TLR2-deficient mice, as well as following treatment with wortmannin or an antibody against the complement receptor 3 (CR3), indicating that PE_PGRS33-mediated entry of Mtb in macrophages occurs through interaction with TLR2.
2016
Inglese
Palucci, I., Camassa, S., Cascioferro, A., Sali, M., Anoosheh, S., Zumbo, A., Minerva, M., Iantomasi, R., De Maio, F., Di Sante, G., Ria, F., Sanguinetti, M., Palù, G., Brennan, M. J., Manganelli, R., Delogu, G., PE_PGRS33 Contributes to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Entry in Macrophages through Interaction with TLR2, <<PLOS ONE>>, 2016; 11 (3): e0150800-e0150800. [doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150800] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/73661]
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
49_Palucci_Pone2016.PDF

accesso aperto

Tipologia file ?: Versione Editoriale (PDF)
Licenza: Non specificato
Dimensione 1.13 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.13 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10807/73661
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 21
  • Scopus 60
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 56
social impact