Role of proapoptotic BAX in propagation of Chlamydia muridarum (the mouse pneumonitis strain of Chlamydia trachomatis) and the host inflammatory response

Authors

Jean-Luc Perfettini, Université Paris
David M. Ojcius, Université ParisFollow
Charles W. Andrews Jr., Sacred Heart Medical Center
Stanley J. Korsmeyer, Université Paris
Roger G. Rank, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Toni Darville, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

ORCiD

David M. Ojcius: 0000-0003-1461-4495

Department

Biomedical Sciences

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Biological Chemistry

ISSN

0021-9258

Volume

278

Issue

11

DOI

10.1074/jbc.M211275200

First Page

9496

Last Page

9502

Publication Date

3-14-2003

Abstract

The BCL-2 family member BAX plays a critical role in regulating apoptosis. Surprisingly, bax-deficient mice display limited phenotypic abnormalities. Here we investigate the effect of BAX on infection by the sexually transmitted pathogen,Chlamydia muridarum (the mouse pneumonitis strain ofChlamydia trachomatis). Bax −/−cells are relatively resistant to Chlamydia-induced apoptosis, and fewer bacteria are recovered after two infection cycles from Bax −/− cells than from wild-type cells. These results suggest that BAX-dependent apoptosis may be used to initiate a new round of infection, most likely by releasingChlamydia-containing apoptotic bodies from infected cells that could be internalized by neighboring uninfected cells. Nonetheless, infected Bax −/− cells die through necrosis, which is normally associated with inflammation, more often than infected wild-type cells. These studies were confirmed in mice infected intravaginally with C. muridarum; since the infection disappears more quickly from Bax −/−mice than from wild-type mice, secretion of proinflammatory cytokines is increased in Bax −/− mice, and large granulomas are present in the genital tract ofBax −/− mice. Taken together, these data suggest that chlamydia-induced apoptosis via BAX contributes to bacterial propagation and decreases inflammation. Baxdeficiency results in lower infection and an increased inflammatory cytokine response associated with more severe pathology.

Recommended Citation

Perfettini, J., Ojcius, D. M., Andrews, C. W., Korsmeyer, S. J., Rank, R. G., & Darville, T. (2003). Role of proapoptotic BAX in propagation of Chlamydia muridarum (the mouse pneumonitis strain of Chlamydia trachomatis) and the host inflammatory response. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 278(11), 9496–9502. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M211275200
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/dugoni-facarticles/109