Open AccessPertussis Toxin Promotes Pulmonary Hypertension in an Infant Mouse Model of Bordetella pertussis Infection
Author(s) -
Karen M. Scanlon,
Ling Chen,
Nicholas H. Carbonetti
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the journal of infectious diseases (online. university of chicago press)/the journal of infectious diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.69
H-Index - 252
eISSN - 1537-6613
pISSN - 0022-1899
DOI - 10.1093/infdis/jiab325
Subject(s) - bordetella pertussis , pertussis toxin , whooping cough , medicine , pulmonary hypertension , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , receptor , bacteria , g protein , vaccination , genetics
Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis, is a reemerging disease that can produce severe disease manifestations in infants, including pulmonary hypertension (PH). B. pertussis-induced PH is a major risk factor for infection-induced death, but the molecular mechanisms promoting PH are unknown and there is no effective treatment. We examined B. pertussis-induced PH in infant and adult mouse models of pertussis by Fulton index, right heart catheterization, or Doppler echocardiogram. Our results demonstrate that B. pertussis-induced PH is age related and dependent on the expression of pertussis toxin by the bacterium. Hence, pertussis toxin-targeting treatments may ameliorate PH and fatal infant infection.