A novel role for cell polarity proteins in innate immunity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection

CINDY TRAN; YONATAN ERAN; TRAVIS RUCH; DAVID BRYANT; ANIRIBAN DATTA; PAUL BRAKEMAN; ARLINET KIERBEL; TORSTEN WITTMAN; ROSS METZGER; KEITH MOSTOV; JOANNE ENGEL

CELL HOST & MICROBE

CELL PRESS

Lugar: United States; Año: 2014 vol. 15 p. 636 - 643

1931-3128

The mucosal epithelium consists of polarized epithelial cells with distinct apical and basolateral membranes that serve as a functional and physical barrier to the outside world. Successful mucosal pathogens must subvert or bypass this barrier. The binding of Pseudomonas aeruginosa aggregates to the apical surface of polarized cells leads to the striking formation of an actin-rich membrane protrusion with ?inverted? polarity, containing basolateral lipids and membrane components. We report that such protrusions are associated with a spatially localized host immune response to apical P. aeruginosa aggregates that requires bacterial flagella and the Type III secretion system apparatus. Host protrusions form de novo underneath bacterial aggregates, involving the apical recruitment of a Par3/Par6/aPKC/Rac1 signaling module for a robust, spatially localized host NFκB response. Our data reveals an unanticipated function for spatio-temporal changes in epithelial polarity in the activation of the innate immune response.