Abstract
In determining the mechanism of neutrophil elastase (NE)-mediated killing of Escherichia coli, we found that NE degraded outer membrane protein A (OmpA), localized on the surface of Gram-negative bacteria. NE killed wild-type, but not OmpA-deficient, E. coli. Also, whereas NE-deficient mice had impaired survival in response to E. coli sepsis, as compared to wild-type mice, the presence or absence of NE had no influence on survival in response to sepsis that had been induced with OmpA-deficient E. coli. These findings define a mechanism of nonoxidative bacterial killing by NE and point to OmpA as a bacterial target in host defense.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
-
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
-
Blood Bactericidal Activity*
-
Cell Membrane / metabolism
-
Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
-
Colony Count, Microbial
-
Escherichia coli / genetics
-
Escherichia coli / growth & development
-
Escherichia coli / metabolism*
-
Escherichia coli / ultrastructure
-
Escherichia coli Infections / immunology
-
Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
-
Humans
-
Leukocyte Elastase / antagonists & inhibitors
-
Leukocyte Elastase / genetics
-
Leukocyte Elastase / metabolism*
-
Mice
-
Microscopy, Electron
-
Mutation
-
Neutrophils / enzymology*
-
Neutrophils / microbiology
-
Phagosomes / enzymology
-
Phagosomes / microbiology
-
Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory
-
Proteins / pharmacology
-
Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
Substances
-
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
-
Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory
-
Proteins
-
Serine Proteinase Inhibitors
-
OMPA outer membrane proteins
-
Leukocyte Elastase