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Autophagy Induced by Intracellular Infection of Propionibacterium acnes
Teruko Nakamura1, Asuka Furukawa1, Keisuke Uchida2
1Department of Human Pathology, Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan.
Plos One
|May 25, 2016
Summary
Propionibacterium acnes infection triggers autophagy, a cellular process that helps kill bacteria within host cells. This finding reveals autophagy as a key defense against P. acnes in sarcoidosis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Sarcoidosis pathogenesis involves Th1 immune responses and Propionibacterium acnes.
- Intracellular P. acnes infection and autophagy are implicated in sarcoidosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if P. acnes infection induces autophagy in host cells.
- To explore the role of autophagy in controlling intracellular P. acnes.
Main Methods:
- Infection of macrophage, mesenchymal, and epithelial cell lines with P. acnes.
- Analysis of autophagy markers (LC3, LAMP1) using microscopy.
- Use of autophagy-deficient cells (Atg5-/-) to assess bacterial burden.
Main Results:
- Viable P. acnes induced LC3-positive vacuoles, indicating autophagy.
- Autophagy marker LC3 colocalized with LAMP1 in late endosomes.
- Autophagy-deficient cells showed significantly higher P. acnes infection rates.
Conclusions:
- Intracellular P. acnes infection robustly induces autophagy.
- Autophagy acts as a host defense mechanism to eliminate intracellular P. acnes.
- Autophagy complements endocytosis and phagocytosis in controlling bacterial infections.
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