RGD Reference Report - Matrix metalloproteinase 9 activity enhances host susceptibility to pulmonary infection with type A and B strains of Francisella tularensis. - Rat Genome Database

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Matrix metalloproteinase 9 activity enhances host susceptibility to pulmonary infection with type A and B strains of Francisella tularensis.

Authors: Malik, M  Bakshi, CS  McCabe, K  Catlett, SV  Shah, A  Singh, R  Jackson, PL  Gaggar, A  Metzger, DW  Melendez, JA  Blalock, JE  Sellati, TJ 
Citation: Malik M, etal., J Immunol. 2007 Jan 15;178(2):1013-20.
RGD ID: 5130727
Pubmed: PMID:17202364   (View Abstract at PubMed)

A striking feature of pulmonary infection with the Gram-negative intracellular bacterium Francisella tularensis, a category A biological threat agent, is an intense accumulation of inflammatory cells, particularly neutrophils and macrophages, at sites of bacterial replication. Given the essential role played by host matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in modulating leukocyte recruitment and the potentially indiscriminate destructive capacity of these cells, we investigated whether MMP-9, an important member of this protease family released by neutrophils and activated macrophages, plays a role in the pathogenesis of respiratory tularemia. We found that F. tularensis induced expression of MMP-9 in FVB/NJ mice and that the action of this protease is associated with higher bacterial burdens in pulmonary and extrapulmonary tissues, development of more extensive histopathology predominated by neutrophils, and increased morbidity and mortality compared with mice lacking MMP-9 (MMP-9(-/-)). Moreover, MMP-9(-/-) mice were able to resolve infection with either the virulence-attenuated type B (live vaccine strain) or the highly virulent type A (SchuS4) strain of F. tularensis. Disease resolution was accompanied by diminished leukocyte recruitment and reductions in both bacterial burden and proinflammatory cytokine production. Notably, neutrophilic infiltrates were significantly reduced in MMP-9(-/-) mice, owing perhaps to limited release of Pro-Gly-Pro, a potent neutrophil chemotactic tripeptide released from extracellular matrix through the action of MMP-9. Collectively, these results suggest that MMP-9 activity plays a central role in modulating the clinical course and severity of respiratory tularemia and identifies MMPs as novel targets for therapeutic intervention as a means of modulating neutrophil recruitment.

RGD Manual Disease Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
bacterial pneumonia  ISOMmp9 (Mus musculus)5130727; 5130727 RGD 
bacterial pneumonia  IMP 5130727 RGD 
tularemia  ISOMmp9 (Mus musculus)5130727; 5130727 RGD 
tularemia  IMP 5130727 RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Mmp9  (matrix metallopeptidase 9)

Genes (Mus musculus)
Mmp9  (matrix metallopeptidase 9)

Genes (Homo sapiens)
MMP9  (matrix metallopeptidase 9)


Additional Information