Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Host Defense against Uropathogenic E. coli Is Counteracted by Bacterial HemolysinA-Dependent Killing of NK Cells

• Published in: Cell host & microbe 2013-12, Vol.14 (6), p.664-674
• Main Authors: Gur, Chamutal, Coppenhagen-Glazer, Shunit, Rosenberg, Shilo, Yamin, Rachel, Enk, Jonatan, Glasner, Ariella, Bar-On, Yotam, Fleissig, Omer, Naor, Ronit, Abed, Jawad, Mevorach, Dror, Granot, Zvi, Bachrach, Gilad, Mandelboim, Ofer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial Load; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; DNA Transposable Elements; Escherichia coli Proteins - genetics; Escherichia coli Proteins - metabolism; Gene Knockout Techniques; Hemolysin Proteins - genetics; Hemolysin Proteins - metabolism; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - physiology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mutagenesis, Insertional; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - immunology; Uropathogenic Escherichia coli - immunology; Uropathogenic Escherichia coli - pathogenicity; Uropathogenic Escherichia coli - physiology; Virulence Factors - genetics; Virulence Factors - metabolism
• ISSN: 1931-3128; 1934-6069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2013.11.004

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are a common cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in humans. While the importance of natural killer (NK) cells in innate immune protection against tumors and viral infections is well documented, their role in defense against bacterial infections is still emerging, and their involvement in UPEC-mediated UTI is practically unknown. Using a systematic mutagenesis approach, we found that UPEC adheres to NK cells primarily via its type I fimbriae and employs its hemolysinA toxin to kill NK cells. In the absence of hemolysinA, NK cells directly respond to the bacteria and secrete the cytokine TNF-α, which results in decreased bacterial numbers in vitro and reduction of bacterial burden in the infected bladders. Thus, NK cells control UPEC via TNF-α production, which UPEC counteracts by hemolysinA-mediated killing of NK cells, representing a previously unrecognized host defense and microbial counterattack mechanism in the context of UTI. •NK cells are involved in UTI•NK cells’ recognition of UPEC leads to TNF-α secretions and reduced bladder infection•UPEC adheres to NK cells via its type I fimbiriae and kills NK via its hemolysinA•UPEC kills NK cells to establish urinary tract infections