Iron acquisition from Pseudomonas aeruginosa siderophores by human phagocytes: An additional mechanism of host defense through iron sequestration?

Bradley E. Britigan, George T. Rasmussen, Oyebode Olakanmi, Charles D. Cox

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Chelation of iron to iron-binding proteins is a strategy of host defense. Some pathogens counter this via the secretion of low-molecular- weight iron-chelating agents (siderophores). Human phagocytes possess a high- capacity mechanism for iron acquisition from low-molecular-weight iron chelates. Efficient acquisition and sequestration of iron bound to bacterial siderophores by host phagocytes could provide a secondary mechanism to limit microbial access to iron. In the present work we report that human neutrophils, macrophages, and myeloid cell lines can acquire iron from the two Pseudomonas aeruginosa siderophores. Analogous to iron acquisition from other low-molecular-weight chelates, iron acquisition from the siderophores is ATP independent, induced by multivalent cationic metals, and unaffected by inhibitors of endocytosis and pinocytosis. In vivo, this process could serve as an additional mechanism of host defense to limit iron availability to invading siderophore-producing microbes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1271-1275
Number of pages5
JournalInfection and immunity
Volume68
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

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