Functional inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase disrupts infection by intracellular bacterial pathogens

Chelsea L. Cockburn, Ryan S. Green, Sheela R. Damle, Rebecca K. Martin, Naomi N. Ghahrai, Punsiri M. Colonne, Marissa S. Fullerton, Daniel H. Conrad, Charles E. Chalfant, Daniel E. Voth, Elizabeth A. Rucks, Stacey D. Gilk, Jason A. Carlyon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Intracellular bacteria that live in host cell derived vacuoles are significant causes of human disease. Parasitism of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is essential for many vacuole-adapted bacteria. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) influences LDL cholesterol egress from the lysosome. Using functional inhibitors of ASM (FIASMAs), we show that ASM activity is key for infection cycles of vacuole-adapted bacteria that target cholesterol trafficking Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Chlamydia pneumoniae. Vacuole maturation, replication, and infectious progeny generation by A. phagocytophilum, which exclusively hijacks LDL cholesterol, are halted and C. burnetii, for which lysosomal cholesterol accumulation is bactericidal, is killed by FIASMAs. Infection cycles of Chlamydiae, which hijack LDL cholesterol and other lipid sources, are suppressed but less so than A. phagocytophilum or C. burnetii. A. phagocytophilum fails to productively infect ASM 2 / 2 or FIASMA-treated mice. These findings establish the importance of ASM for infection by intracellular bacteria and identify FIASMAs as potential host-directed therapies for diseases caused by pathogens that manipulate LDL cholesterol.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere201800292
JournalLife Science Alliance
Volume2
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous)
  • Plant Science
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Functional inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase disrupts infection by intracellular bacterial pathogens'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this