MAP kinase phosphatase-2 plays a critical role in response to infection by Leishmania mexicana

Al-Mutairi, M.S. and Cadalbert, L.C. and McGachy, H.A. and Shweash, M.S. and Schroeder, J. and Kurnik, M. and Sloss, C.M. and Bryant, C.E. and Alexander, James and Plevin, R.J. (2010) MAP kinase phosphatase-2 plays a critical role in response to infection by Leishmania mexicana. PLOS Pathogens, 6 (11). e1001192. ISSN 1553-7366 (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1001192)

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Abstract

In this study we generated a novel dual specific phosphatase 4 (DUSP4) deletion mouse using a targeted deletion strategy in order to examine the role of MAP kinase phosphatase-2 (MKP-2) in immune responses. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced a rapid, time and concentration-dependent increase in MKP-2 protein expression in bone marrow-derived macrophages from MKP-2+/+ but not from MKP-2−/− mice. LPS-induced JNK and p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation was significantly increased and prolonged in MKP-2−/− macrophages whilst ERK phosphorylation was unaffected. MKP-2 deletion also potentiated LPS-stimulated induction of the inflammatory cytokines, IL-6, IL-12p40, TNF-α, and also COX-2 derived PGE2 production. However surprisingly, in MKP-2−/− macrophages, there was a marked reduction in LPS or IFNγ-induced iNOS and nitric oxide release and enhanced basal expression of arginase-1, suggesting that MKP-2 may have an additional regulatory function significant in pathogen-mediated immunity. Indeed, following infection with the intracellular parasite Leishmania mexicana, MKP-2−/− mice displayed increased lesion size and parasite burden, and a significantly modified Th1/Th2 bias compared with wild-type counterparts. However, there was no intrinsic defect in MKP-2−/− T cell function as measured by anti-CD3 induced IFN-γ production. Rather, MKP-2−/− bone marrow-derived macrophages were found to be inherently more susceptible to infection with Leishmania mexicana, an effect reversed following treatment with the arginase inhibitor nor-NOHA. These findings show for the first time a role for MKP-2 in vivo and demonstrate that MKP-2 may be essential in orchestrating protection against intracellular infection at the level of the macrophage.

ORCID iDs

Al-Mutairi, M.S., Cadalbert, L.C., McGachy, H.A., Shweash, M.S., Schroeder, J., Kurnik, M., Sloss, C.M., Bryant, C.E., Alexander, James and Plevin, R.J. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7849-1220;
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