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Infect Immun, June 1998, p. 2514-2520, Vol. 66, No. 6
Molecular,
Received 29 December 1997/Returned for modification 27 February
1998/Accepted 12 March 1998
Ehrlichia chaffeensis, an obligatory intracellular
bacterium of monocytes or macrophages, is the etiologic agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis. Our previous study showed that gamma interferon (IFN-
0019-9567/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Protein Kinase A-Mediated Inhibition of Gamma Interferon-Induced
Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Janus Kinases and Latent Cytoplasmic
Transcription Factors in Human Monocytes by Ehrlichia
chaffeensis
) added prior to or at early stage of infection inhibited infection of human monocytes with E. chaffeensis;
however, after 24 h of infection, IFN-
had no antiehrlichial
effect. To test whether ehrlichial infection disrupts Janus kinase
(Jak) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)
signaling induced by IFN-
, tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat1, Jak1,
and Jak2 in E. chaffeensis-infected THP-1 cells
was examined by immunoprecipitation followed by immunoblot analysis.
Viable E. chaffeensis organisms blocked tyrosine
phosphorylation of Stat1, Jak1, and Jak2 in response to IFN-
within
30 min of infection. Similar results were obtained with human
peripheral blood monocytes infected with E. chaffeensis. Heat or proteinase K treatment but not
periodate treatment of E. chaffeensis
abrogated the inhibitory effect, suggesting that protein factor(s) of
E. chaffeensis is responsible for the inhibition of IFN-
-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Preincubation of
E. chaffeensis with the Fab fragment of dog
anti-E. chaffeensis immunoglobulin G also
abrogated the inhibitory effect. On the other hand,
monodansylcadaverine, which does not block binding but blocks
internalization of ehrlichiae into macrophages, did not
have any influence on the tyrosine phosphorylation. These results
indicate that ehrlichial binding to host cells is sufficient to inhibit
Stat1 tyrosine phosphorylation induced by IFN-
. Protein kinase A
(PKA) activity in THP-1 cells increased approximately 25-fold within 30 min of infection with E. chaffeensis. In THP-1
cells pretreated with a PKA inhibitor, Rp isomer of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphorothioate, E. chaffeensis-induced inhibition of Stat1 tyrosine
phosphorylation was partially abrogated. These results suggest that
E. chaffeensis blocks IFN-
-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Jak and Stat through raising PKA activity in THP-1
cells, which may be an important survival mechanism of ehrlichiae within the host cell.
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of
Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1925 Coffey Rd., Columbus, OH 43210-1093. Phone: (614) 292-5661. Fax: (614) 292-6473. E-mail: rikihasa.1{at}osu.edu.
Infect Immun, June 1998, p. 2514-2520, Vol. 66, No. 6
0019-9567/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
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