Streptococcus pneumoniae disrupts the structure of the golgi apparatus and subsequent epithelial cytokine response in an H(2)O(2)-dependent manner

Science and Research

BACKGROUND: Lung infections caused by Streptococcus pneumonia are a global leading cause of death. The reactive oxygen species H(2)O(2) is one of the virulence factors of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The Golgi apparatus is essential for the inflammatory response of a eukaryotic cell. Golgi fragmentation was previously shown to be induced by bacterial pathogens and in response to H(2)O(2) treatment. This led us to investigate whether the Golgi apparatus is actively involved and targeted in host-pathogen interactions during pneumococcal infections. METHODS: Following in vitro infection of BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells with Streptococcus pneumoniae for 16 h, the structure of the Golgi apparatus was assessed by fluorescence staining of the Golgi-associated protein, Golgin-97. To investigate the effect of H(2)O(2) production on Golgi structure, BEAS-2B cells were treated with H(2)O(2) or the H(2)O(2) degrading enzyme Catalase, prior to Golgi staining. Artificial disruption of the Golgi apparatus was induced by treatment of cells with the GBF1 inhibitor, Golgicide A. A proinflammatory cellular response was induced by treatment of cells with the bacterial cell wall component and TLR4 ligand lipoteichoic acid. RESULTS: In vitro infection of bronchial epithelial cells with wild type Streptococcus pneumoniae led to a disruption of normal Golgi structure. Golgi fragmentation was not observed after deletion of the pneumococcal H(2)O(2)-producing gene, spxB, or neutralization of H(2)O(2) by catalase treatment, but could be induced by H(2)O(2) treatment. Streptococcus pneumoniae infection significantly reduced host cell protein glycosylation and artificial disruption of Golgi structure significantly reduced bacterial adherence, but increased bacterial counts in the supernatant. To understand if this effect depended on cell-contact or soluble factors, pneumococci were treated with cell-supernatant of cells treated with Golgicide A and/or lipoteichoic acid. This approach revealed that lipoteichoic acid conditioned medium inhibits bacterial replication in presence of host cells. In contrast, artificial Golgi fragmentation by Golgicide A treatment prior to lipoteichoic acid treatment rescued bacterial replication. This effect was associated with an increase of IL-6 and IL-8 in the supernatant of lipoteichoic acid treated cells. The increased cytokine release was abolished if cells were treated with Golgicide A prior to lipoteichoic acid treatment. CONCLUSION: Streptococcus pneumoniae disrupts the Golgi apparatus in an H(2)O(2)-dependent manner, thereby inhibiting paracrine anti-infective mechanisms. Video Abstract.