TY - JOUR
T1 - The Abl and Arg Kinases Mediate Distinct Modes of Phagocytosis and Are Required for Maximal Leishmania Infection
AU - Wetzel, Dawn M.
AU - McMahon-Pratt, Diane
AU - Koleske, Anthony J.
PY - 2012/8
Y1 - 2012/8
N2 - Leishmania, an obligate intracellular parasite, binds several receptors to trigger engulfment by phagocytes, leading to cutaneous or visceral disease. These receptors include complement receptor 3 (CR3), used by promastigotes, and the Fc receptor (FcR), used by amastigotes. The mechanisms mediating uptake are not well understood. Here we show that Abl family kinases mediate both phagocytosis and the uptake of Leishmania amazonensis by macrophages (MF{cyrillic}s). Imatinib, an Abl/Arg kinase inhibitor, decreases opsonized polystyrene bead phagocytosis and Leishmania uptake. Interestingly, phagocytosis of IgG-coated beads is decreased in Arg-deficientMF{cyrillic}s, while that of C3bi-coated beads is unaffected. Conversely, uptake of C3bi-coated beads is decreased in Abl-deficientMF{cyrillic}s, but that of IgG-coated beads is unaffected. Consistent with these results, Abl-deficientMF{cyrillic}s are inefficient at C3bi-opsonized promastigote uptake, and Arg-deficientMF{cyrillic}s are defective in IgG1-opsonized amastigote uptake. Finally, genetic loss of Abl or Arg reduces infection severity in murine cutaneous leishmaniasis, and imatinib treatment results in smaller lesions with fewer parasites than in controls. Our studies are the first to demonstrate that efficient phagocytosis and maximal Leishmania infection require Abl family kinases. These results highlight Abl family kinase-mediated signaling pathways as potential therapeutic targets for leishmaniasis.
AB - Leishmania, an obligate intracellular parasite, binds several receptors to trigger engulfment by phagocytes, leading to cutaneous or visceral disease. These receptors include complement receptor 3 (CR3), used by promastigotes, and the Fc receptor (FcR), used by amastigotes. The mechanisms mediating uptake are not well understood. Here we show that Abl family kinases mediate both phagocytosis and the uptake of Leishmania amazonensis by macrophages (MF{cyrillic}s). Imatinib, an Abl/Arg kinase inhibitor, decreases opsonized polystyrene bead phagocytosis and Leishmania uptake. Interestingly, phagocytosis of IgG-coated beads is decreased in Arg-deficientMF{cyrillic}s, while that of C3bi-coated beads is unaffected. Conversely, uptake of C3bi-coated beads is decreased in Abl-deficientMF{cyrillic}s, but that of IgG-coated beads is unaffected. Consistent with these results, Abl-deficientMF{cyrillic}s are inefficient at C3bi-opsonized promastigote uptake, and Arg-deficientMF{cyrillic}s are defective in IgG1-opsonized amastigote uptake. Finally, genetic loss of Abl or Arg reduces infection severity in murine cutaneous leishmaniasis, and imatinib treatment results in smaller lesions with fewer parasites than in controls. Our studies are the first to demonstrate that efficient phagocytosis and maximal Leishmania infection require Abl family kinases. These results highlight Abl family kinase-mediated signaling pathways as potential therapeutic targets for leishmaniasis.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84864586029&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84864586029&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1128/MCB.00086-12
DO - 10.1128/MCB.00086-12
M3 - Article
C2 - 22665498
AN - SCOPUS:84864586029
SN - 0270-7306
VL - 32
SP - 3176
EP - 3186
JO - Molecular and cellular biology
JF - Molecular and cellular biology
IS - 15
ER -