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Open Access

Peer-reviewed

Research Article

A Thrombomodulin Mutation that Impairs Active Protein C Generation Is Detrimental in Severe Pneumonia-Derived Gram-Negative Sepsis (Melioidosis)

  • Liesbeth M. Kager ,

    l.m.kager@amc.uva.nl

    Affiliations Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    ⨯
  • W. Joost Wiersinga,

    Affiliations Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Division of Infectious Diseases, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    ⨯
  • Joris J. T. H. Roelofs,

    Affiliation Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    ⨯
  • Onno J. de Boer,

    Affiliation Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    ⨯
  • Hartmut Weiler,

    Affiliation Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America

    ⨯
  • Cornelis van 't Veer,

    Affiliations Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    ⨯
  • Tom van der Poll

    Affiliations Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Division of Infectious Diseases, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    ⨯

Abstract

Background

During severe (pneumo)sepsis inflammatory and coagulation pathways become activated as part of the host immune response. Thrombomodulin (TM) is involved in a range of host defense mechanisms during infection and plays a pivotal role in activation of protein C (PC) into active protein C (APC). APC has both anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study we investigated the effects of impaired TM-mediated APC generation during melioidosis, a common form of community-acquired Gram-negative (pneumo)sepsis in South-East Asia caused by Burkholderia (B.) pseudomallei.

Methodology/Principal Findings

(WT) mice and mice with an impaired capacity to activate protein C due to a point mutation in their Thbd gene (TMpro/pro mice) were intranasally infected with B. pseudomallei and sacrificed after 24, 48 or 72 hours for analyses. Additionally, survival studies were performed. When compared to WT mice, TMpro/pro mice displayed a worse survival upon infection with B. pseudomallei, accompanied by increased coagulation activation, enhanced lung neutrophil influx and bronchoalveolar inflammation at late time points, together with increased hepatocellular injury. The TMpro/pro mutation had limited if any impact on bacterial growth and dissemination.

Conclusion/Significance

TM-mediated protein C activation contributes to protective immunity after infection with B. pseudomallei. These results add to a better understanding of the regulation of the inflammatory and procoagulant response during severe Gram-negative (pneumo)sepsis.

Author Summary

Pneumonia and sepsis are conditions in which a procoagulant state is observed, with activation of coagulation and downregulation of anticoagulant pathways, both closely interrelated with inflammation. The protein C (PC) system is an important anticoagulant pathway implicated in the pathogenesis of sepsis. After binding to thrombomodulin (TM), PC is converted into active protein C (APC), mediated via high-affinity binding of thrombin to thrombomodulin (TM) and further augmented via association of the endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) to the TM-thrombin complex. We studied the role of TM-associated PC-activation during the host response during pneumonia-derived sepsis caused by Burkholderia (B.) pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, a common form of community-acquired Gram-negative (pneumo)sepsis in South-East Asia and a serious potential bioterrorism threat agent. Mice with an impaired capacity to activate protein C displayed a worse survival upon infection with B. pseudomallei, accompanied by increased coagulation activation, enhanced lung neutrophil influx and bronchoalveolar inflammation at late time points, together with increased hepatocellular injury. These data further expand the knowledge about the role of the protein C system during melioidosis and may be of value in the development of therapeutic strategies against this dangerous pathogen.

Citation: Kager LM, Wiersinga WJ, Roelofs JJTH, de Boer OJ, Weiler H, van 't Veer C, et al. (2014) A Thrombomodulin Mutation that Impairs Active Protein C Generation Is Detrimental in Severe Pneumonia-Derived Gram-Negative Sepsis (Melioidosis). PLoS Negl Trop Dis 8(4): e2819. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002819

Editor: Nicholas P. Day, Mahidol University, Thailand

Received: July 10, 2013; Accepted: March 11, 2014; Published: April 24, 2014

Copyright: © 2014 Kager et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Funding: LMK is sponsored by research grants of ZonMW (projectnumber: 92003504), the Stichting BeGeTu and the Mr. Willem Bakhuys Roozeboom Stichting. WJW is sponsored by a VENI grant of The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) (grant number: 91610008) and a clinical fellowship of ZonMW (projectnumber: 90700424). JJTHR is sponsored by the Dutch Kidney Foundation (grant number: C09.2287). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Introduction

Thrombomodulin (TM, CD141) is a multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein receptor expressed on the surface of all vascular cells and various hematopoietic cells involved in activation of various parameters of inflammation and coagulation including protein C (PC), thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), complement factors and in high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) [1], [2]. TM plays a pivotal role in the regulation of coagulation via its capacity to activate PC into active protein C (APC), mediated by high-affinity binding of thrombin to TM [3], [4] and further augmented via association of the endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) to the TM-thrombin complex [3], [4]. Once dissociated from EPCR, APC serves as an anticoagulant by inactivating coagulation factors Va and VIIIa, together with its cofactor protein S [3], [4]. On the other hand, APC has anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic properties through signaling via G-coupled protease activated receptors-1 (PAR-1) [4]. Futhermore, APC may exert anti-inflammatory effects via PAR-3 [5] and involvement of α3β1, α5β1, and αVβ3 integrins [6], mechanisms that are in part EPCR-independent.

Ample evidence has shown that severe (pneumo)sepsis is accompanied by both activation of a strong proinflammatory response and increased coagulation activation, inadequate anticoagulation and suppression of fibrinolysis [7], [8]. The interplay between inflammation and blood coagulation is considered to be an essential part of host defense against pathogenic bacteria. Indeed, patients with severe sepsis displayed low levels of PC and APC, which correlated with organ dysfunction and an adverse outcome [9], [10]. Preclinical studies investigated the role of endogenous PC during inflammation and sepsis. Mice with decreased PC levels, due heterozygous deficiency for PC, had more severe disseminated intravascular coagulation, increased fibrin depositions and higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines upon intraperitoneal injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) [11], while reduced PC levels in mice with genetically modified (low) PC expression strongly correlated with a survival disadvantage after LPS challenge [12]. Furthermore, inhibition of endogenous PC increased the procoagulant response during Escherichia coli peritonitis [13] and H1N1 influenza in mice [14].

Melioidosis is an infectious disease common in Southeast-Asia and Northern-Australia and an important cause of community-acquired pneumonia and sepsis in these areas with mortalities up to 40% despite appropriate antibiotic therapy [15]–[17]. Once a patient is infected by the causative pathogen Burkholderia (B.) pseudomallei, this bacterium spreads rapidly throughout the body resulting in many possible disease manifestations, septic shock being the most severe [15], [16]. Additionally, B. pseudomallei was recently classified as a ‘Tier 1’ disease agent considered to be an exceptional threat to security [18]. Previous research has demonstrated pronounced coagulation activation in patients with culture-proven septic melioidosis together with downregulation of anticoagulant pathways [10], [19]. In particular, PC levels were markedly decreased in these patients [10], [19], correlating with a worse disease outcome [10]. In the present study, we sought to determine the role of TM and in particular its function in endogenous APC generation, in the host defense during pneumosepsis caused by B. pseudomallei.

Materials and Methods

Mice

Pathogen-free 10-week old male WT C57BL/6 mice were purchased from Charles River (Maastricht, The Netherlands). TMpro/pro mice were generated as described [20] and backcrossed eight times on a C57BL/6 background. Homozygous mutant TMpro/pro mice, due to a single amino acid substitution (Glu404Pro) in the Thbd gene, exhibit a decrease of approximately 1000-fold with respect to PC activation and approximately 100-fold with respect to binding of thrombin at physiologic levels of the enzyme [20]. In addition, TMpro/pro mice produce less than 4% of APC in their alveolar space upon intratracheal administration of PC and thrombin [21]. Mice were maintained at the animal care facility of the Academic Medical Center (University of Amsterdam), according to national guidelines with free access to food and water. The Committee on Use and Care of Animals of the University of Amsterdam approved all experiments.

Ethics statement

Mice studies were carried out under the guidance of the Animal Research Institute of the Academical Medical Center in Amsterdam (ARIA). All animals were maintained at the animal care facility of the Academic Medical Center (University of Amsterdam), with free access to food and water, according to National Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, which are based on the National Experiments on Animals Act (Wet op de Dierproeven (WOD)) and the Experiments on Animals Decree (Dierproevenbesluit), under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports, the Netherlands. The Committee of Animal Care and Use (Dier Experimenten Commissie, DEC) of the University of Amsterdam approved all experiments (Permit number DIX100121-101700)

Experimental infection and determination of bacterial growth

Experimental melioidosis was induced by intranasal inoculation with B. pseudomallei strain 1026b (750 colony forming units (CFU)/50 µL 0.9% NaCl) as previously described [22]–[25]. The number of mice per group used in each experiment is provided in the Figure Legend. For each experiment all mice were infected at the same time point to avoid variance in the bacterial inoculum. For survival experiments mice were checked every 4–6 hours until death occurred for a maximum of 15 days. Sample harvesting and processing and determination of bacterial growth were done as described [22]–[25].

Cell counts and flow cytometry

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained as described [24]. Total counts of paraformaldehyde (4%)-fixed BALF cells were measured using a Coulter Counter (Beckman Coulter Inc. Brea, CA). Differential counts were determined by FACS (FACSCalibur, Becton Dickson, San Jose, CA) using directly labeled antibodies against Gr-1 (Gr-1 FITC; BD Pharmingen, San Diego, CA) and F4/80 (F4/80 APC; AbD Serotec, Oxford, UK). Neutrophilic granulocytes were defined according to their scatter pattern and Gr-1 positivity. All antibodies were used in concentrations recommended by the manufacturer.

Assays

Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, interferon (IFN)-γ, monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by cytometric bead array (CBA) multiplex assay (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA) in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations. Thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TATc; Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Marburg, Germany) and D-dimer (Asserachrom D-dimer, Roche Woerden, the Netherlands) were measured with commercially available ELISA kits. Protein levels in BALF were measured using a Bradford-based protein assay (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA). Aspartate aminotranspherase (ASAT) and alanine aminotranspherase (ALAT) were determined with commercial available kits (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO), using a Hitachi analyzer (Boehringer Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany) according to the manufacturers' instructions.

Histology and immunohistochemistry

Paraffin-embedded 4 µm tissue sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and analyzed for inflammation and tissue damage as described [22]–[25]. Briefly, all slides were coded and scored by a pathologist blinded for the experimental groups. Lung tissues were scored for the following parameters: interstitial inflammation, necrosis, endothelialitis, bronchitis, edema, pleuritis, presence of thrombi and percentage of lung surface with pneumonia. All parameters were rated separately from 0 (condition absent) to 4 (most severe condition). The total histopathological score was expressed as the sum of the scores of the individual parameters, with a maximum of 24. Granulocyte stainings, using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled rat-anti-mouse Ly-6G mAb (BD Pharmingen, San Diego, CA) were done as described previously [23]–[25]. Slides were counterstained with methylgreen (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO). The total tissue area of the Ly-6G-stained slides was scanned with a slide scanner (Olympus dotSlide, Tokyo, Japan) and the obtained scans were exported in TIFF format for digital image analysis. The digital images were analyzed with ImageJ (version 2006.02.01, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) and the immunopositive (Ly6G+) area was expressed as the percentage of the total lung surface area.

Statistical analysis

Data are expressed as box and whisker plots showing the smallest observation, lower quartile, median, upper quartile and largest observation or as medians with interquartile ranges. Comparisons between groups were tested using the Mann-Whitney U test. For survival studies Kaplan-Meier analyses followed by Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test were performed. All analyses were done using GraphPad Prism version 5.01 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA). P-values<0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

TMpro/pro mice have a reduced survival during murine melioidosis

To explore whether a decreased capacity to generate APC impacts on survival during severe Gram-negative (pneumo)sepsis caused by B. pseudomallei we infected TMpro/pro and WT mice with 750 CFU of this bacterium and followed them for 15 days (Figure 1). TMpro/pro mice had an accelerated mortality when compared to WT mice: after 3.8 days already 7 out of 16 TMpro/pro mice (44%) had died, whereas the first WT mice did not die until 3.9 days. After the total observation period, 16 out of 18 WT mice had died (89%), while all TMpro/pro mice had passed away (100%) (P<0.05; Figure 1). These results indicate that a reduced capacity to generate APC renders mice more vulnerable for death during Gram-negative (pneumo)sepsis caused by B. pseudomallei.

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Figure 1. TMpro/pro mice display a reduced survival during murine melioidosis.

Mice were inoculated intranasally with 750B. pseudomallei. Mortality was assessed every 6 hours, n = 16–18 mice per group. Comparison cumulative survival between groups was done by using Kaplan-Meier analysis followed by Log rank (Mantel-Cox) tests.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002819.g001

TMpro/pro mice demonstrate increased coagulation activation after infection with B. pseudomallei

We have previously shown that in our model of murine melioidosis severe inflammation is associated with marked coagulation activation, which is most prominent at later time points [22]–[25]. To determine whether the increased mortality of TMpro/pro mice was accompanied by alterations in local and systemic coagulation activation of B. pseudomallei, we measured levels of TATc, a well-known marker for coagulation activation, in the lungs and systemically in TMpro/pro and WT mice 24, 48 and 72 hours after infection. In accordance with their detrimental phenotype in the survival study, TMpro/pro demonstrated increased coagulation activation, as reflected by elevated pulmonary and plasma levels of TATc at 24 and 72 hours after infection with 750 CFU B. pseudomallei intranasally (P<0.05 for the differences between WT and TMpro/pro mice, Figure 2A and B). Moreover, when compared to WT mice, TMpro/pro mice had increased lung levels of D-dimer at these time points (P<0.01, Figure 2C). These data show that a point mutation in the TM-gene associated with a decreased capacity to generate APC leads to enhanced coagulation activation during Gram-negative (pneumo)sepsis (melioidosis).

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Figure 2. TMpro/pro mice demonstrate increased coagulation activation after infection with B. pseudomallei.

Mice were inoculated intranasally with 750B. pseudomallei and sacrificed after 24, 48 and 72 hours. Coagulation activation in lung homogenates (A) and plasma (B), as reflected by levels of TATc. Lung D-dimer levels in TMpro/pro mice (C). Data are expressed as box and whisker plots showing the smallest observation, lower quartile, median, upper quartile and largest observation. Grey and white boxes represent WT and TMpro/pro mice respectively (n = 8 mice/group). *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 for the difference between WT and TMpro/pro mice (Mann-Whitney U test).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002819.g002

The TMpro/pro mutation has limited impact on bacterial growth and dissemination

Our model of murine melioidosis is associated with marked bacterial growth locally in lungs with subsequent spreading to distant organs [22]–[25]. To determine whether the increased mortality of TMpro/pro mice was accompanied by alterations in the local and systemic growth of B. pseudomallei, we examined bacterial loads in the lungs (the primary site of infection), liver, spleen and blood (to evaluate the extent of bacterial dissemination) harvested from TMpro/pro and WT mice 24, 48 and 72 hours after infection with 750 CFU of B. pseudomallei. At 48 hours modestly increased bacterial loads were counted in lungs of TMpro/pro mice when compared to WT mice (P<0.05, Figure 3A). However, after 72 hours pulmonary bacterial loads of WT and TMpro/pro mice were similar. Furthermore, no differences in bacterial dissemination could be detected: WT and TMpro/pro mice had similar bacterial loads in spleen (Figure 3B), liver (Figure 3C) and blood (Figure 3D) at all time points. These data demonstrate that TM-mediated APC-generation has a modest and temporary effect on local antibacterial defense during severe Gram-negative (pneumo)sepsis.

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Figure 3. The TMpro/pro mutation has limited impact on bacterial growth and dissemination.

Mice were inoculated intranasally with 750B. pseudomallei and sacrificed after 24, 48 and 72 hours. Bacterial loads were determined in lung homogenates (A), spleen (B) and liver homogenates (C) and in whole blood (D). Data are expressed as box and whisker plots showing the smallest observation, lower quartile, median, upper quartile and largest observation. Grey boxes represent WT mice, white boxes represent TMpro/pro mice (n = 8 mice/group). *P<0.05 for the difference between WT and TMpro/pro mice (Mann-Whitney U test). BC+ number of positive blood cultures/total number of mice per group.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002819.g003

TMpro/pro mice exhibit increased lung tissue damage at early time points and increased neutrophil influx in the lungs

Our murine model of melioidosis is associated with severe lung inflammation and damage [22]–[25]. To analyze whether impaired TM-mediated APC generation would impact hereon, we determined histopathological scores of lungs after infection with B. pseudomallei. All mice infected with B. pseudomallei had inflammatory lung infiltrates characterized by interstitial inflammation together with necrosis, endothelialitis, bronchitis, edema, thrombi and pleuritis (Figure 4A–C). Twenty-four hours after infection of 750 CFU of B. pseudomallei the lung histopathology score (as detailed in the Methods section) was significantly increased in TMpro/pro mice when compared to WT mice (P<0.05; Figure 4A–C), while at later time points no differences were seen between both mouse strains. Additionally, we analysed neutrophil recruitment to lung tissue, as it is known that neutrophils play an important role in the host response during melioidosis [16], [17], [26]. For this lung tissues were stained for Ly-6G. Clear neutrophilic infiltrates were seen in both WT and TMpro/pro mice, increasing over time during the course of the experiment. Seventy-two hours after infection, lung tissue of TMpro/pro mice contained significantly more neutrophils than that of WT mice (P<0.01, Figure 4D–F). These data suggest that TM-mediated APC generation reduces neutrophil recruitment and lung pathology during severe Gram-negative (pneumo)sepsis.

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Figure 4. Lung histopathology and neutrophil recruitment.

Mice were inoculated intranasally with 750B. pseudomallei and sacrificed after 24, 48 and 72 hours. Histopathology scores of WT and TMpro/pro mice infected B. pseudomallei (A). Representative photographs of lungs at 72 hours post-inoculation from WT (B) and TMpro/pro mice (C) (H&E staining ×100). Granulocyte influx in the lungs 72 hours after infection, as reflected by the intensity of Ly-6G immunostaining of histopathological slides (D). Representative photographs of Ly-6G immunostaining (original magnification ×100) for granulocytes of WT (E) and TMpro/pro mice (F). Data are expressed as box and whisker plots showing the smallest observation, lower quartile, median, upper quartile and largest observation. Grey boxes represent WT mice, white boxes represent TMpro/pro mice (n = 8 mice/group). *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 for the difference between WT and TMpro/pro mice (Mann-Whitney U test). CFU colony forming units.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002819.g004

Impact of the TMpro/pro mutation on lung and plasma cytokine concentrations after infection with B. pseudomallei

Since cytokines and chemokines are important regulators of the inflammatory response to B. pseudomallei [16], [17], [27] we measured pulmonary and plasma levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, IFN-γ and MCP-1 (Table 1). Interestingly, early (24 hours) after infection of 750 CFU of B. pseudomallei, TMpro/pro mice showed reduced IFN-γ levels in both lungs and plasma and decreased IL-12p70 levels in lung homogenates, relative to WT mice. In plasma, these differences remained present at 48 hours after infection. During the late phase of the infection (72 hours) most mediator levels were higher in TMpro/pro mice when compared with WT mice, significantly so for lung IL-12p70 and IL-6 concentrations.

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Table 1. Cytokine concentrations in lung homogenates and plasma of WT and TMpro/pro mice during murine melioidosis.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002819.t001

TMpro/pro mice display increased neutrophil influx and pro-inflammatory cytokine release in the alveolar compartment

Many studies have demonstrated that severe pneumonia may lead to alveolar damage and subsequent alveolar leakage and release of pro-inflammatory parameters [28], [29]. To determine the impact of impaired APC generation on this extra-vascular, intrabronchial compartment, we determined CFU, protein leakage and parameters of inflammation in BALF 72 hours after inoculation of 750 CFU of B. pseudomallei, i.e. shortly before the first deaths occurred and at a time point when lung injury is expected to be at its peak. No differences in bacterial growth (Figure 5A) or total protein content, a marker for alveolar damage (Figure 5B), could be detected in BALF of WT and TMpro/pro mice, nor were there any differences in total cell influx in BALF (Figure 5C). The percentage of neutrophils in BALF of TMpro/pro mice, however, was significantly higher than in WT mice (P<0.01; Figure 5D), which is in accordance with the increased neutrophil influx visualized by Ly6-staining of lung tissue. Moreover, BALF levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 (Figure 5E) and TNF- α (Figure 5F) we significantly increased in TMpro/pro mice when compared to WT mice (P<0.001 for both cytokines). These results indicate, that during severe Gram-negative (pneumosepsis) intact TM-mediated APC generation limits the proinflammatory response in the alveolar compartment.

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Figure 5. TMpro/pro mice demonstrate an increased inflammatory response in their bronchoalveolar space 72 hours after infection.

Mice were inoculated intranasally with 750B. pseudomallei and sacrificed after 24, 48 and 72 hours. Bacterial loads (A) in BALF 72 hours after infection with B. pseudomallei (A). Total protein content (B), total cell influx (C) and percentages of neutrophils (D) in BALF. Levels of IL-6 (E) and TNF-α (F) in BALF. Data are expressed as box and whisker plots showing the smallest observation, lower quartile, median, upper quartile and largest observation. Grey boxes represent WT mice, white boxes represent TMpro/pro mice (n = 8 mice/group). **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 for the difference between WT and TMpro/pro mice (Mann-Whitney U test). BALF bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, CFU colony forming units, IL interleukin, TNF-α tumor necrosis factor-α.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002819.g005

TMpro/pro mice show enhanced hepatocellular injury

Our model of experimental melioidosis is associated with hepatocellular injury as reflected by elevated plasma levels of transaminases [23], [25]. To obtain insight in the possible role of TM-mediated APC generation herein, we measured ASAT and ALAT in plasma of WT and TMpro/pro mice 24, 48 and 72 hours after infection with 750 CFU of B. pseudomallei. Indeed, when compared to WT mice, TMpro/pro mice showed modestly increased levels of plasma ASAT (P<0.01 at 24 and 72 hours; Figure 6A) and ALAT (P<0.05 at 72 hours post-infection; Figure 6B). Taken together, intact TM-mediated APC generation seems to protect against hepatocellular injury during experimental melioidosis.

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Figure 6. TMpro/pro mice show increased hepatocellular injury during experimental melioidosis.

Mice were inoculated intranasally with 750B. pseudomallei and sacrificed after 24, 48 and 72 hours. Plasma levels of ASAT (A) and ALAT (B) after infection with B. pseudomallei. Data are expressed as box and whisker plots showing the smallest observation, lower quartile, median, upper quartile and largest observation. Grey boxes represent WT mice, white boxes represent TMpro/pro mice (n = 8 mice/group). *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 for the difference between WT and TMpro/pro mice (Mann-Whitney U test). ASAT aspartate aminotranspherase, ALAT alanine aminotranspherase.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002819.g006

Discussion

In the present study we sought to investigate the role of TM and in particular its function in endogenous PC activation during melioidosis, a Gram-negative infection often associated with severe pneumonia and sepsis [15], [16]. Melioidosis, as we have demonstrated by our established mouse model, is characterized by gradual growth of bacteria from the lung followed by dissemination to distant body sites, activation of coagulation and inflammation, tissue injury and death, thereby mimicking the clinical scenario of severe (pneumo)sepsis [22]–[25]. Our data show that impaired TM-dependent conversion of PC into APC is associated with enhanced lethality during experimental melioidosis, accompanied by increased coagulation activation, bronchoalveolar inflammation and hepatocellular damage. These data indicate that the capacity to properly activate endogenous PC contributes to protective immunity during experimental melioidosis.

TM is known to play important roles in coagulation and inflammation, that are largely based on its distinct structural domains, including the lectin-like domain, EGF-like repeats, transmembrane domain and short cytoplasmic tail [1], [2]. The EGF-like repeats play a pivotal role in the PC-system via binding of thrombin, thereby increasing the capacity to generate APC a 100-fold [1], [20]. During sepsis, the expression of TM on endothelial cells is downregulated [30], causing impaired APC-generation that may then affect parameters of coagulation and inflammation important for the host response of the infected individual. To answer our research questions, we used genetically modified mice, TMpro/pro mice. In contrast to Thbd gene-deficient mice, which die in the embryonic stage [31], TMpro/pro mice develop to term and possess normal reproductive performance [20], but have a decreased endogenous APC synthesis ability when compared to WT mice, as was demonstrated both in the circulation [20] and in the alveolar space [21]. Our data showing increased coagulation activation in TMpro/pro mice, as reflected by increased levels of TATc and D-dimer, are fully in accordance with this. Interestingly, previous studies examining the impact of the TMpro/pro mutation on coagulopathy during experimental (pneumo)sepsis induced by the Gram-positive pathogen Streptococcus (S.) pneumoniae or the Gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella (K.) pneumoniae or after intranasal administration of E. coli LPS failed to show differences in TATc in plasma or BALF between TMpro/pro and WT mice [21]. Similarly, in a model of experimental tuberculosis no differences in lung and plasma TATc were detected between WT and TMpro/pro mice [32]. During systemic endotoxemia TMpro/pro mice were reported to have enhanced fibrin deposition in lungs and kidneys in the presence of unaltered plasma D-dimer concentrations [33]. Clearly, the influence of the TMpro/pro mutation on the procoagulant response depends on the type and extent of the inflammatory stimulus.

Besides its anticoagulant properties TM-activated PC also influences the host immune response during sepsis: APC may exert anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and cell-protective effects by proteolytic cleavage of PAR-1 [3], [4]. Indeed, our data demonstrate that impaired APC generation due to a mutation in the Thbd gene resulted in pro-inflammatory effects, as indicated by increased lung pathology at early time points and exaggerated bronchoalveolar inflammation and hepatocellular injury at later time points in TMpro/pro mice. Of interest, the neutrophilic infiltrates measured by Ly-6G staining seem to decrease at 72 hours in WT mice, as opposed to TMpro/pro mice. Remarkably, our results are in contrast with murine models of airway inflammation induced by S. pneumoniae, K. pneumoniae or LPS, in which no differences in the abovementioned parameters for inflammation were seen between WT and TMpro/pro mice [21]. On the other hand, TMpro/pro mice displayed enhanced diabetic nephropathy, in a model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus, accompanied by glomerular apoptosis, pointing to a detrimental phenotype when endogenous PC activation is impaired [34], while after induction of lung tuberculosis by Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis a pro-inflammatory phenotype in TMpro/pro mice was seen [32], comparative to our findings. An obvious explanation for the differences in inflammatory responses observed between these different pathogens and disease conditions is lacking. In contrast to K. pneumoniae, both M. tuberculosis and B. pseudomallei are intracellular organisms, both using the cytosol for survival and escape from anti-bacterial host defense mechanisms. It could be hypothesized that this also influences both generation and inflammatory effects of endogenous APC. Obviously this is area for further research. The coagulation system and APC in particular are of major importance in the host defense against melioidosis, in which both the anti-coagulant and anti-inflammatory function of APC play a major role [24], [35]. It could be hypothesized that during infections with other pathogens such as K. pneumonia or S. pneumonia the relative contribution of the coagulation system to the host response is of less importance than during hypervirulent B. pseudomallei infection in which containment of bacteria at the original site of infection is of utmost importance. In this case it is likely, that deficiency of endogenous APC, as in TMpro/pro mice, has more impact during melioidosis than during infection with other pathogens, which might explain the differences in observed phenotypes between the various pathogens.

In TMpro/pro mice the capacity to generate APC from its precursor protein C is disabled due to a point mutation in the thrombomodulin gene. Therefore, there would be a clear rationale to study exogenously administered APC in our model. However, we have reported very recently that overexpression of APC is detrimental during experimental melioidosis [35]. This is in line with more recent studies in which APC was proven to be ineffective in patients with severe sepsis [36]. Moreover, exogenous recombinant APC has a very short half life, which requires continuous intravenous administration in order to maintain adequate APC levels and to mimic the human situation as much as possible. Obviously, continuous intravenous administration of medication is hard to achieve in freely moving mice.

At late stage infection, shortly before the first deaths occurred, TMpro/pro mice displayed increased local and systemic coagulation activation, increased neutrophil influx and cytokine levels in the lungs, high bacterial loads and -most likely as a consequence thereof- increased end organ damage, as reflected by for example elevated plasma levels of transaminases indicating hepatocellular injury. We therefore hypothesize that the accelerated mortality observed in the TMpro/pro mice is the consequence of a combination of these factors resulting in end-stage multi-organ failure (MOF). In addition, MOF might have induced diffuse intravascular coagulation (DIC) as well, as is often seen in humans with severe sepsis [8]. Indeed, formation of thrombi was observed on histological examination of lung, liver and spleen tissues (data not shown). However, differences between WT and TMpro/pro mice were too small to display any significant differences between groups. Together these data suggest that endogenous APC protects mice against melioidosis induced death by limiting coagulation activation, lung inflammation and MOF.

An important component of the host response to B. pseudomallei is the release of proinflammatory cytokines [17], [27], [37]. Clinical studies in melioidosis patients showed elevated serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IFN-γ [27], [37]. The pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ, produced by cytotoxic T-cells and natural killer cells, has an important protective role in early resistance against B. pseudomallei infection [38]: administration of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody against IFN-γ was associated with marked increases in bacterial loads in the liver and spleen, together with enhanced lethality [38]. Similarly, inhibition of the production of IL-12, one of the predominant inducers of IFN-γ, resulted in increased mortality in the same model [38]. Interestingly, we found decreased levels of IFN-γ and IL12p70 in TMpro/pro mice early after infection. Although a clear explanation for this observation is lacking, it may in part explain the modestly higher bacterial loads in the lungs of TMpro/pro mice at 48 hours post-infection. While we observed marked differences in pro-inflammatory cytokines between WT mice and TMpro/pro mice, no differences in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 could be observed. Of note, IL-10 concentrations were very low both in WT mice and TMpro/pro mice during murine septic melioidosis which is in line with earlier reports [39], [40].

Our study also has limitations. It should be noted that there is no consensus in the literature over which mouse strain best models the pathology seen in human melioidosis and both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice have been used [41]–[43]. BALB/c mice have been thought to be more susceptible for B. pseudomallei than C57BL/6 mice, although we and others demonstrated that even after inoculation of a fairly low dose of bacteria (300–750 CFU) C57BL/6 mice develop an acute and severe infection which is lethal in most cases and perfectly mimics acute melioidosis [22], [39], [40], [44]–[46]. The reason for the hypersusceptibility of the BALB/c strain is not known, but Watanabe et al. have reported that BALB/c macrophages express lower beta-glucuronidase, in response to levels of the lysosomal enzyme, macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 (a synthetic TLR2 ligand) and to E. coli lipopolysaccharide when compared to C57BL/6 macrophages [47]. In humans, beta-glucuronidase deficiency manifests as ‘Sly syndrome’ or mucopolysaccharidosis type VII. The potential association of the BALB/c mouse with an inherited human disease should prompt caution in the interpretation of experiments conducted using this strain.

The current study identifies TM-mediated APC generation as part of the protective host response during melioidosis and is in accordance with recent evidence from our laboratory showing that inhibition of endogenous PC by specific anti-PC antibodies converts a non-lethal model of experimental melioidosis into a lethal model, associated with increased coagulation activation, severe tissue injury and a strongly increased proinflammatory response [24]. Together these data emphasize the importance of adequate APC levels during melioidosis. As such, administration of recombinant human APC hypothetically could be a promising therapeutic agent in melioidosis. However, in 2012 this drug was withdrawn from the market after negative results from the PROWESS SHOCK trial in sepsis patients [36]. Recombinant soluble TM currently undergoes clinical evaluation as an anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory agent in patients with sepsis [48], [49]. It would be of interest to test the effects of soluble TM in experimental (and clinical) melioidosis.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Marieke ten Brink and Joost Daalhuisen for their expert technical assistance during the animal experiments, Kamran Bakhtiari, Wil Kopatz, Marian Weijne and Lucy Leverink for performing the coagulation measurements and Regina de Beer for performing histopathological and immunohistochemical stainings.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: LMK WJW TvdP. Performed the experiments: LMK JJTHR OJdB. Analyzed the data: LMK WJW CvtV TvdP. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: HW OJdB JJTHR. Wrote the paper: LMK WJW HW CvtV TvdP.

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