Modeling of variables in cellular infection reveals CXCL10 levels are regulated by human genetic variation and the Chlamydia-encoded CPAF protease

Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 26;10(1):18269. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75129-y.

Abstract

Susceptibility to infectious diseases is determined by a complex interaction between host and pathogen. For infections with the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, variation in immune activation and disease presentation are regulated by both host genetic diversity and pathogen immune evasion. Previously, we discovered a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs2869462) associated with absolute abundance of CXCL10, a pro-inflammatory T-cell chemokine. Here, we report that levels of CXCL10 change during C. trachomatis infection of cultured cells in a manner dependent on both host and pathogen. Linear modeling of cellular traits associated with CXCL10 levels identified a strong, negative correlation with bacterial burden, suggesting that C. trachomatis actively suppresses CXCL10. We identified the pathogen-encoded factor responsible for this suppression as the chlamydial protease- or proteasome-like activity factor, CPAF. Further, we applied our modeling approach to other host cytokines in response to C. trachomatis and found evidence that RANTES, another T-cell chemoattractant, is actively suppressed by Chlamydia. However, this observed suppression of RANTES is not mediated by CPAF. Overall, our results demonstrate that CPAF suppresses CXCL10 to evade the host cytokine response and that modeling of cellular infection parameters can reveal previously unrecognized facets of host-pathogen interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Chemokine CCL5 / metabolism
  • Chemokine CXCL10 / genetics*
  • Chemokine CXCL10 / metabolism
  • Chlamydia Infections / genetics*
  • Chlamydia Infections / metabolism
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / enzymology*
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / genetics
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • CCL5 protein, human
  • CXCL10 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL5
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Endopeptidases
  • CPA factor