Phospholipase A secreted by Legionella pneumophila destroys alveolar surfactant phospholipids

Abstract Destruction of alveolar surfactant phospholipids by bacterial phospholipases is suggested to be a major virulence factor involved in bacterial pneumonia. Since Legionella pneumophila secretes phospholipase A, we analyzed phospholipid degradation in natural bovine surfactant by L. pneumophil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEMS microbiology letters 2000-07, Vol.188 (2), p.129-133
Main Authors: Flieger, Antje, Gong, Shimei, Faigle, Marion, Mayer, Hermann August, Kehrer, Ulf, Mußotter, Josef, Bartmann, Peter, Neumeister, Birgid
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alveolar surfactant
Alveoli
Animals
Bacteria
Bacteriology
Biodegradation
Biological and medical sciences
Cattle
Cytotoxicity
Fatty acids
Fatty Acids - analysis
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Legionella
Legionella pneumophila
Legionella pneumophila - enzymology
Legionella pneumophila - growth & development
Legionnaires' disease bacterium
Lung diseases
Lysophosphatidylcholine
Lysophosphatidylcholines - analysis
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Microbiology
Pathogenicity, virulence, toxins, bacteriocins, pyrogens, host-bacteria relations, miscellaneous strains
Phosphatidylcholines - analysis
Phosphatidylglycerols - analysis
Phospholipase
Phospholipase A
Phospholipases A - metabolism
Phospholipid
Phospholipid degradation
Phospholipids
Pulmonary Surfactants - analysis
Pulmonary Surfactants - chemistry
Pulmonary Surfactants - metabolism
Surface Tension
Surfactants
Time Factors
Virulence
Virulence factors
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Summary:Abstract Destruction of alveolar surfactant phospholipids by bacterial phospholipases is suggested to be a major virulence factor involved in bacterial pneumonia. Since Legionella pneumophila secretes phospholipase A, we analyzed phospholipid degradation in natural bovine surfactant by L. pneumophila. Phospholipids were reduced in amount after incubation with bacteria or culture supernatant of L. pneumophila serogroup 6. Free fatty acids and lysophosphatidylcholine were formed, the latter is known to be highly cytotoxic. Surface tension of surfactant as determined by pulsating bubble surfactometer increased significantly compared to the control. Phospholipase A activity seems to be a powerful agent of legionellae in causing lung disease.
ISSN:0378-1097
1574-6968
DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09183.x