Effect of <i>Vibrio</i>-Derived Extracellular Protease vEP-45 on the Blood Complement System

<i>Vibrio vulnificus</i> is a pathogenic bacterium that can causes wound infections and fetal septicemia. We have reported that <i>V. vulnificus</i> ATCC29307 produces an extracellular zinc-metalloprotease (named vEP-45). Our previous results showed that vEP-45 can convert pr...

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Main Authors: So Hyun Kwon, Jung Eun Park, Yeong Hee Cho, Jung Sup Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
Series:Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/10/8/798
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author So Hyun Kwon
Jung Eun Park
Yeong Hee Cho
Jung Sup Lee
author_facet So Hyun Kwon
Jung Eun Park
Yeong Hee Cho
Jung Sup Lee
author_sort So Hyun Kwon
collection DOAJ
description <i>Vibrio vulnificus</i> is a pathogenic bacterium that can causes wound infections and fetal septicemia. We have reported that <i>V. vulnificus</i> ATCC29307 produces an extracellular zinc-metalloprotease (named vEP-45). Our previous results showed that vEP-45 can convert prothrombin to active thrombin and also activate the plasma kallikrein/kinin system. In this study, the effect of vEP-45 on the activation of the complement system was examined. We found that vEP-45 could proteolytically convert the key complement precursor molecules, including C3, C4, and C5, to their corresponding active forms (e.g., C3a, C3b, C4a, C4b, and C5a) in vitro cleavage assays. C5b production from C5 cleavage mediated by vEP-45 was not observed, whereas the level of C5a was increased in a dose-dependent manner compared to that of the non-treated control. The cleavage of the complement proteins in human plasma by vEP-45 was also confirmed via Western blotting. Furthermore, vEP-45 could convert C3 and C5 to active C3a and C5a as a proinflammatory mediator, while no cleavage of C4 was observed. These results suggest that vEP-45 can activate the complement system involved in innate immunity through an alternative pathway.
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spelling doaj.art-882fb0db52e54123972b3ef9f29d7e0c2023-11-22T06:50:40ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372021-08-0110879810.3390/biology10080798Effect of <i>Vibrio</i>-Derived Extracellular Protease vEP-45 on the Blood Complement SystemSo Hyun Kwon0Jung Eun Park1Yeong Hee Cho2Jung Sup Lee3Department of Biomedical Science, College of Natural Sciences and Public Health and Safety, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Natural Sciences and Public Health and Safety, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Natural Sciences and Public Health and Safety, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Natural Sciences and Public Health and Safety, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea<i>Vibrio vulnificus</i> is a pathogenic bacterium that can causes wound infections and fetal septicemia. We have reported that <i>V. vulnificus</i> ATCC29307 produces an extracellular zinc-metalloprotease (named vEP-45). Our previous results showed that vEP-45 can convert prothrombin to active thrombin and also activate the plasma kallikrein/kinin system. In this study, the effect of vEP-45 on the activation of the complement system was examined. We found that vEP-45 could proteolytically convert the key complement precursor molecules, including C3, C4, and C5, to their corresponding active forms (e.g., C3a, C3b, C4a, C4b, and C5a) in vitro cleavage assays. C5b production from C5 cleavage mediated by vEP-45 was not observed, whereas the level of C5a was increased in a dose-dependent manner compared to that of the non-treated control. The cleavage of the complement proteins in human plasma by vEP-45 was also confirmed via Western blotting. Furthermore, vEP-45 could convert C3 and C5 to active C3a and C5a as a proinflammatory mediator, while no cleavage of C4 was observed. These results suggest that vEP-45 can activate the complement system involved in innate immunity through an alternative pathway.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/10/8/798<i>Vibrio vulnificus</i>vEP-45 proteasecomplement systemC3aC5ainnate immunity
spellingShingle So Hyun Kwon
Jung Eun Park
Yeong Hee Cho
Jung Sup Lee
Effect of <i>Vibrio</i>-Derived Extracellular Protease vEP-45 on the Blood Complement System
Biology
<i>Vibrio vulnificus</i>
vEP-45 protease
complement system
C3a
C5a
innate immunity
title Effect of <i>Vibrio</i>-Derived Extracellular Protease vEP-45 on the Blood Complement System
title_full Effect of <i>Vibrio</i>-Derived Extracellular Protease vEP-45 on the Blood Complement System
title_fullStr Effect of <i>Vibrio</i>-Derived Extracellular Protease vEP-45 on the Blood Complement System
title_full_unstemmed Effect of <i>Vibrio</i>-Derived Extracellular Protease vEP-45 on the Blood Complement System
title_short Effect of <i>Vibrio</i>-Derived Extracellular Protease vEP-45 on the Blood Complement System
title_sort effect of i vibrio i derived extracellular protease vep 45 on the blood complement system
topic <i>Vibrio vulnificus</i>
vEP-45 protease
complement system
C3a
C5a
innate immunity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/10/8/798
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