Mannheimia haemolytica leukotoxin binds to lipid rafts in bovine lymphoblastoid cells and is internalized in a dynamin-2- and clathrin-dependent manner

Infect Immun. 2007 Oct;75(10):4719-27. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00534-07. Epub 2007 Aug 6.

Abstract

Mannheimia haemolytica is the principal bacterial pathogen of the bovine respiratory disease complex. Its most important virulence factor is a leukotoxin (LKT), which is a member of the RTX family of exotoxins produced by many gram-negative bacteria. Previous studies demonstrated that LKT binds to the beta(2)-integrin LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) on bovine leukocytes, resulting in cell death. In this study, we demonstrated that depletion of lipid rafts significantly decreases LKT-induced bovine lymphoblastoid cell (BL-3) death. After binding to BL-3 cells, some of the LKT relocated to lipid rafts in an LFA-1-independent manner. We hypothesized that after binding to LFA-1 on BL-3 cells, LKT moves to lipid rafts and clathrin-coated pits via a dynamic process that results in LKT internalization and cytotoxicity. Knocking down dynamin-2 by small interfering RNA reduced both LKT internalization and cytotoxicity. Similarly, expression of dominant negative Eps15 protein expression, which is required for clathrin coat formation, reduced LKT internalization and LKT-mediated cytotoxicity to BL-3 cells. Finally, we demonstrated that inhibiting actin polymerization reduced both LKT internalization and LKT-mediated cytotoxicity. These results suggest that both lipid rafts and clathrin-mediated mechanisms are important for LKT internalization and cytotoxicity in BL-3 cells and illustrate the complex nature of LKT internalization by the cytoskeletal network.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / toxicity
  • Cattle
  • Cell Line
  • Clathrin / metabolism*
  • Dynamin II / genetics
  • Dynamin II / metabolism*
  • Endocytosis / physiology*
  • Exotoxins / metabolism*
  • Exotoxins / toxicity
  • Gene Silencing
  • Mannheimia haemolytica / physiology*
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics

Substances

  • Actins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Clathrin
  • Exotoxins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • leukotoxin
  • Dynamin II