Pneumolysin: A double-edged sword during the host-pathogen interaction

Marriott, H.M., Mitchell, T.J. and Dockrell, D.H. (2008) Pneumolysin: A double-edged sword during the host-pathogen interaction. Current Molecular Medicine, 8(6), 497 -509.

Abstract

The cholesterol-dependent cytolysins are pore-forming toxins. Pneumolysin is the cytolysin produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae and is a key virulence factor. The protein contains 471 amino acids and four structural domains. Binding to cholesterol is followed by oligomerization and membrane pore formation. Pneumolysin also activates the classical pathway of complement. Mutational analysis of the toxin and knowledge of sequence variation in outbreak strains suggests that additional activities of biologic importance exist. Pneumolysin activates a large number of genes, some by epigenetic modification, in eukaryotic cells and multiple signal transduction pathways. Cytolytic effects contribute to lung injury and neuronal damage while pro-inflammatory effects compound tissue damage. Nevertheless pneumolysin is a focal point of the immune response to pneumococci. Toll-like receptor 4-mediated recognition, osmosensing and T-cell responses to pneumolysin have been identified. In some animal models mutants that lack pneumolysin are associated with impaired bacterial clearance. Pneumolysin, which itself may induce apoptosis in neurones and other cells can activate host-mediated apoptosis in macrophages enhancing clearance. Disease pathogenesis, which has traditionally focused on the harmful effects of the toxin, increasingly recognises that a precarious balance between limited host responses to pneumolysin and either excessive immune responses or toxin-mediated subversion of host immunity exists.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Mitchell, Professor Timothy
• Authors: Marriott, H.M., Mitchell, T.J., and Dockrell, D.H.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Current Molecular Medicine
• ISSN: 1566-5240
• Published Online: 01 January 2008