Bcr and Abr cooperate in negatively regulating acute inflammatory responses

Mol Cell Biol. 2009 Nov;29(21):5742-50. doi: 10.1128/MCB.00357-09. Epub 2009 Aug 24.

Abstract

Bcr and Abr are GTPase-activating proteins for the small GTPase Rac. Both proteins are expressed in cells of the innate immune system, including neutrophils and macrophages. The function of Bcr has been linked to the negative regulation of neutrophil reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, but the function of Abr in the innate immune system was unknown. Here, we report that mice lacking both proteins are severely affected in two models of experimental endotoxemia, including exposure to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide and polymicrobial sepsis, with extensive microvascular leakage, resulting in severe pulmonary edema and hemorrhage. Additionally, in vivo-activated neutrophils of abr and bcr null mutant mice produced excessive tissue-damaging myeloperoxidase (MPO), elastase, and ROS. Moreover, the secretion of the tissue metalloproteinase MMP9 by monocytes and ROS by elicited macrophages was abnormally high. In comparison, ROS production from bone marrow monocytes was not significantly different from that of controls, and the exocytosis of neutrophil secondary and tertiary granule products, including lactoferrin, was normal. These data show that Abr and Bcr normally curb very specific functions of mature tissue innate immune cells, and that each protein has distinct as well as partly overlapping functions in the downregulation of inflammatory processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytochalasin B / pharmacology
  • Endotoxemia / microbiology
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Lung Injury / pathology
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation / genetics
  • N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / pharmacology
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / enzymology
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr / deficiency
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr / metabolism*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Abr protein, mouse
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Proteins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Cytochalasin B
  • N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine
  • Bcr protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins