Identification of Leptospira interrogans phospholipase C as a novel virulence factor responsible for intracellular free calcium ion elevation during macrophage death.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Leptospira-induced macrophage death has been confirmed to play a crucial role in pathogenesis of leptospirosis, a worldwide zoonotic infectious disease. Intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) elevation induced by infection can cause cell death, but [Ca(2+)]i changes and high [Ca(2+)]i-induced death of macrophages due to infection of Leptospira have not been previously reported.

Methodology/principal findings

We first used a Ca(2+)-specific fluorescence probe to confirm that the infection of L. interrogans strain Lai triggered a significant increase of [Ca(2+)]i in mouse J774A.1 or human THP-1 macrophages. Laser confocal microscopic examination showed that the [Ca(2+)]i elevation was caused by both extracellular Ca(2+) influx through the purinergic rec

SUBMITTER: Zhao JF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3790881 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature