Transcriptional stimulation of anthrax toxin receptors by anthrax edema toxin and Bacillus anthracis Sterne spore

Microb Pathog. 2007 Jul;43(1):37-45. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2007.03.002. Epub 2007 Mar 15.

Abstract

We used quantitative real-time RT-PCR to not only investigate the mRNA levels of anthrax toxin receptor 1 (ANTXR1) and 2 (ANTXR2) in the murine J774A.1 macrophage cells and different tissues of mice, but also evaluate the effect of anthrax edema toxin and Bacillus anthracis Sterne spores on the expression of mRNA of these receptors. The mRNA transcripts of both receptors were detected in J774A.1 cells and mouse tissues such as the lung, heart, kidney, spleen, stomach, jejunum, brain, skeleton muscle, and skin. The ANTXR2 mRNA level was significantly higher than that of ANTXR1 in J774A.1 cells and all tissues examined. The mRNA expression of both receptors in the lung was the highest among the tissues evaluated. Interestingly, the mRNA expression of both receptors in J774A.1 cells was upregulated by edema toxin. In addition, ANTXR mRNA expression in the lung was downregulated after subcutaneous inoculation of B. anthracis Sterne spores as well as after intranasal administration of anthrax toxin-based vaccine BioThrax. These results suggest that anthrax edema toxin and B. anthracis Sterne spore are involved in the ANTXR mRNA regulation in host cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthrax / genetics
  • Anthrax / immunology
  • Anthrax / microbiology*
  • Anthrax Vaccines / immunology*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Bacillus anthracis / pathogenicity*
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Toxins / immunology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cell Line
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Macrophages / microbiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Peptide / genetics*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Spores, Bacterial / genetics
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Anthrax Vaccines
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Antxr1 protein, mouse
  • Antxr2 protein, mouse
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Peptide
  • anthrax toxin