Open AccessA1 adenosine receptor signaling reduces Streptococcus pneumoniae adherence to pulmonary epithelial cells by targeting expression of platelet‐activating factor receptor
Author(s) -
Bhalla Manmeet,
Hui Yeoh Jun,
Lamneck Claire,
Herring Sydney E.,
Tchalla Essi Y.I.,
Heinzinger Lauren R.,
Leong John M.,
Bou Ghanem Elsa N.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/cmi.13141
Subject(s) - platelet activating factor receptor , biology , streptococcus pneumoniae , adenosine , extracellular , adenosine receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , neutrophil extracellular traps , receptor , immunology , signal transduction , pneumococcal pneumonia , pneumonia , immune system , inflammation , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry , antagonist , agonist , antibiotics
Extracellular adenosine production is crucial for host resistance against Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and is thought to affect antibacterial immune responses by neutrophils. However, whether extracellular adenosine alters direct host–pathogen interaction remains unexplored. An important determinant for lung infection by S. pneumoniae is its ability to adhere to the pulmonary epithelium. Here we explored whether extracellular adenosine can directly impact bacterial adherence to lung epithelial cells. We found that signaling via A1 adenosine receptor significantly reduced the ability of pneumococci to bind human pulmonary epithelial cells. A1 receptor signaling blocked bacterial binding by reducing the expression of platelet‐activating factor receptor, a host protein used by S. pneumoniae to adhere to host cells. In vivo, A1 was required for control of pneumococcal pneumonia as inhibiting it resulted in increased host susceptibility. As S. pneumoniae remain a leading cause of community‐acquired pneumonia in the elderly, we explored the role of A1 in the age‐driven susceptibility to infection. We found no difference in A1 pulmonary expression in young versus old mice. Strikingly, triggering A1 signaling boosted host resistance of old mice to S. pneumoniae pulmonary infection. This study demonstrates a novel mechanism by which extracellular adenosine modulates resistance to lung infection by targeting bacterial–host interactions.