ATP6V0d2 controls Leishmania parasitophorous vacuole biogenesis via cholesterol homeostasis

PLoS Pathog. 2019 Jun 14;15(6):e1007834. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007834. eCollection 2019 Jun.

Abstract

V-ATPases are part of the membrane components of pathogen-containing vacuoles, although their function in intracellular infection remains elusive. In addition to organelle acidification, V-ATPases are alternatively implicated in membrane fusion and anti-inflammatory functions controlled by ATP6V0d2, the d subunit variant of the V-ATPase complex. Therefore, we evaluated the role of ATP6V0d2 in the biogenesis of pathogen-containing vacuoles using ATP6V0d2 knock-down macrophages infected with the protozoan parasite Leishmania amazonensis. These parasites survive within IFNγ/LPS-activated inflammatory macrophages, multiplying in large/fusogenic parasitophorous vacuoles (PVs) and inducing ATP6V0d2 upregulation. ATP6V0d2 knock-down decreased macrophage cholesterol levels and inhibited PV enlargement without interfering with parasite multiplication. However, parasites required ATP6V0d2 to resist the influx of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-derived cholesterol, which restored PV enlargement in ATP6V0d2 knock-down macrophages by replenishing macrophage cholesterol pools. Thus, we reveal parasite-mediated subversion of host V-ATPase function toward cholesterol retention, which is required for establishing an inflammation-resistant intracellular parasite niche.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cholesterol / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic*
  • Homeostasis*
  • Leishmania / metabolism*
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / metabolism
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / parasitology
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Up-Regulation*
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / biosynthesis*
  • Vacuoles / metabolism*
  • Vacuoles / parasitology
  • Vacuoles / pathology

Substances

  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein
  • Cholesterol
  • Atp6v0d2 protein, mouse
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by funds from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, 2015/14205-9 and 2016/15000-4 grants), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) to CCP, RAM and FR. HG is recipient of funds from Laboratórios de Investigação Médica, LIM-38, Faculdade de Medicina, USP. VDA, HG and RAM are recipients of CNPq Research Productivity Fellowships. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.