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Induction of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 by Mycoplasma hominis in respiratory epithelial cells
1Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport 71130-3932, USA. jbaier@lsumc.edu
Background:
Very small preterm infants who have genital mycoplasmas isolated from the trachea are at increased risk to develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The early stages of BPD are characterized by inflammation. Recruitment and activation of mononuclear cells in response to mycoplasmas may be important in the early stage of the disease. Lung epithelial cell production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a protein that attracts and activates mononuclear cells, could be critical in the regulation of mononuclear cell migration to the lung.
Methods:
We examined the potential of Mycoplasma hominis (Mh) to induce MCP-1 gene expression and protein production in A549 cells, a pulmonary epithelial cell line with characteristics of type II cells.
Results:
Live or heat-inactivated Mh induces MCP-1 mRNA and protein in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Stimulation of MCP-1 by Mh was not inhibited by 50 micrograms/mL of polymyxin B, interleukin (IL)-1ra, or neutralizing antibodies to IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha were not detected in conditioned media of Mh-stimulated A549 cells.
Conclusions:
These data suggest that Mh may participate in the inflammatory component of BPD by directly inducing epithelial cell production of cytokines that recruit and activate mononuclear cells.
Insights
Mycoplasma hominis (Mh) can trigger inflammation in preterm infants by increasing monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in lung cells. This suggests Mh contributes to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) development.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal respiratory diseases
- Pulmonary inflammation
- Microbial pathogenesis
Background:
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) risk increases in preterm infants with genital mycoplasmas in the trachea.
- Early BPD stages involve inflammation, potentially driven by mononuclear cell recruitment and activation.
- Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) produced by lung epithelial cells is critical for mononuclear cell lung migration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the capacity of Mycoplasma hominis (Mh) to induce MCP-1 gene expression and protein production.
- To examine the role of pulmonary epithelial cells in the inflammatory response to Mh.
Main Methods:
- A549 cells, a type II pulmonary epithelial cell line, were used to study Mh effects.
- MCP-1 mRNA and protein levels were measured after stimulation with live or inactivated Mh.
- The impact of polymyxin B, IL-1ra, and antibodies to IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF-α on Mh-induced MCP-1 production was assessed.
Main Results:
- Mh significantly induced MCP-1 mRNA and protein in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
- MCP-1 induction by Mh was not inhibited by polymyxin B, IL-1ra, or antibodies against IL-1α, IL-1β, or TNF-α.
- IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF-α were not detected in the cell culture media after Mh stimulation.
Conclusions:
- Mh directly stimulates pulmonary epithelial cells to produce MCP-1.
- This induction of MCP-1 by Mh contributes to the inflammatory processes in BPD.
- Mh may play a role in recruiting and activating mononuclear cells in the lungs of affected infants.
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