Maheswaran, S. K.

ABSTRACTLeukotoxin and endotoxin derived fromPasteurella haemolyticaserotype 1 are the primary virulence factors contributing to the pathogenesis of lung injury in bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis. Activation of bovine alveolar macrophages with endotoxin or leukotoxin results in the induction of cytokine gene expression, with different kinetics (H. S. Yoo, S. K. Maheswaran, G. Lin, E. L. Townsend, and T. R. Ames, Infect. Immun. 63:381–388, 1995; H. S. Yoo, B. S. Rajagopal, S. K. Maheswaran, and T. R. Ames, Microb. Pathog. 18:237–252, 1995). Furthermore, extracellular Ca2+is required for leukotoxin-induced cytokine gene expression. However, the involvement of Ca2+in endotoxin effects and the precise signaling mechanisms in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+by leukotoxin and endotoxin are not known. In fura-2-acetoxymethyl ester-loaded alveolar macrophages, intracellular Ca2+regulation by leukotoxin and endotoxin was studied by video fluorescence microscopy. Leukotoxin induced a sustained elevation of intracellular Ca2+in a concentration-dependent fashion by influx of extracellular Ca2+through voltage-gated channels. In the presence of fetal bovine serum, endotoxin elevated intracellular Ca2+even in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Leukotoxin-induced intracellular Ca2+elevation was inhibited by pertussis toxin, inhibitors of phospholipases A2and C, and the arachidonic acid analog 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid. Intracellular Ca2+elevation by endotoxin was inhibited by inhibitors of phospholipase C and protein tyrosine kinase, but not by pertussis toxin, or the arachidonic acid analog. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Ca2+signaling by leukotoxin through a G-protein-coupled mechanism involving activation of phospholipases A2and C and release of arachidonic acid in bovine alveolar macrophages. Ca2+signaling by endotoxin, on the other hand, involves activation of phospholipase C and requires tyrosine phosphorylation. The differences in the Ca2+signaling mechanisms may underlie the reported temporal differences in gene expression during leukotoxin and endotoxin activation.

ABSTRACTPasteurella (Mannheimia) haemolyticaleukotoxin (Lkt) causes cell type- and species-specific effects in ruminant leukocytes. Recent studies indicate thatP. haemolyticaLkt binds to bovine CD18, the common subunit of all β2 integrins. We designed experiments with the following objectives: to identify which member of the β2 integrins is a receptor for Lkt; to determine whether Lkt binding to the receptor is target cell (bovine leukocytes) specific; to define the relationships between Lkt binding to the receptor, calcium elevation, and cytolysis; and to determine whether a correlation exists between Lkt receptor expression and the magnitude of target cell cytolysis. We compared Lkt-induced cytolysis in neutrophils from control calves and from calves with bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD), because neutrophils from BLAD-homozygous calves exhibit reduced β2 integrin expression. The results demonstrate for the first time that Lkt binds to bovine CD11a and CD18 (lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 [LFA-1]). The binding was abolished by anti-CD11a or anti-CD18 monoclonal antibody (MAb). Lkt-induced calcium elevation in bovine alveolar macrophages (BAMs) was inhibited by anti-CD11a or anti-CD18 MAb (65 to 94% and 37 to 98%, respectively, at 5 and 50 Lkt units per ml;P< 0.05). Lkt-induced cytolysis in neutrophils and BAMs was also inhibited by anti-CD11a or anti-CD18 MAb in a concentration-dependent manner. Lkt bound to porcine LFA-1 but did not induce calcium elevation or cytolysis. In neutrophils from BLAD calves, Lkt-induced cytolysis was decreased by 44% compared to that of neutrophils from control calves (P< 0.05). These results indicate that LFA-1 is a Lkt receptor, Lkt binding to LFA-1 is not target cell specific, Lkt binding to bovine LFA-1 correlates with calcium elevation and cytolysis, and bovine LFA-1 expression correlates with the magnitude of Lkt-induced target cell cytolysis.