Wouter J. C. Feitz

The complement system and neutrophils play crucial roles in innate immunity. Neutrophils release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are composed of decondensed DNA entangled with granular contents, as part of their innate immune function. Mechanisms governing complement-mediated NET formation remain unclear. In this study, we tested a two-step NETosis mechanism, as follows: classical complement-mediated neutrophil activation in serum and subsequent NET formation in serum-free conditions, using neutrophils from healthy donors, endothelial cells, and various assays (Fluo-4AM, DHR123, and SYTOX), along with flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Our findings reveal that classical complement activation on neutrophils upregulated the membrane-anchored complement regulators CD46, CD55, and CD59. Additionally, complement activation increased CD11b on neutrophils, signifying activation and promoting their attachment to endothelial cells. Complement activation induced calcium influx and citrullination of histone 3 (CitH3) in neutrophils. However, CitH3 formation alone was insufficient for NET generation. Importantly, NET formation occurred only when neutrophils were in serum-free conditions. In such environments, neutrophils induced NADPH oxidase-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, leading to NET formation. Hence, we propose that complement-mediated NET formation involves a two-step process, as follows: complement deposition, neutrophil priming, calcium influx, CitH3 formation, and attachment to endothelial cells in serum. This is followed by NADPH-dependent ROS production and NET completion in serum-free conditions. Understanding this process may unveil treatment targets for pathologies involving complement activation and NET formation.

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection is the most common cause of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), one of the main causes of acute kidney injury in children. Stx plays an important role in endothelium damage and pathogenesis of STEC-HUS. However, the effects of Stx on neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation are not well understood. In this study, we investigated how Stx2a affects NET formation and NETotic pathways (NADPH or NOX-dependent and -independent) using neutrophils isolated from healthy donors and patients with STEC-HUS, during the acute and recovery phase of the disease. Stx2a dose-dependently induced NETosis in neutrophils isolated from both healthy controls and STEC-HUS patients. NETosis kinetics and mechanistic data with pathway-specific inhibitors including diphenyleneiodonium (DPI)-, ERK-, and P38-inhibitors showed that Stx2a-induced NETosis via the NOX-dependent pathway. Neutrophils from STEC-HUS patients in the acute phase showed less ROS and NETs formation compared to neutrophils of the recovery phase of the disease and in healthy controls. NETs induced by Stx2a may lead to the activation of endothelial cells, which might contribute to the manifestation of thrombotic microangiopathy in STEC-HUS.

In 90% of the cases, childhood hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is caused by an infection with the Shiga toxin (Stx) producing E. coli bacteria (STEC-HUS). Stx preferentially binds to its receptor, the glycosphingolipid, globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), present on the surface of human kidney cells and various organs. In this study, the glycosphingolipid pathway in endothelial cells was explored as therapeutic target for STEC-HUS. Primary human glomerular microvascular endothelial cells (HGMVECs) and human blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) in quiescent and activated state were pre-incubated with Eliglustat (Cerdelga^®; glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor) or Agalsidase alpha (Replagal^®; human cell derived alpha-galactosidase) in combination with various concentrations of Stx2a. Preincubation of endothelial cells with Agalsidase resulted in an increase of α-galactosidase activity in the cell, but had no effect on the binding of Stx to the cell surface when compared to control cells. However, the incubation of both types of endothelial cells incubated with or without the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα in combination with Eliglustat resulted in significant decrease of Stx binding to the cell surface, a decrease in protein synthesis by Stx2a, and diminished cellular Gb3 levels as compared to control cells. In conclusion, inhibition of the synthesis of Gb3 may be a potential future therapeutic target to protect against (further) endothelial damage caused by Stx.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by a triad of symptoms consisting of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure. The most common form of HUS is caused by an infection with Shiga toxin (Stx) producing Escherichia coli bacteria (STEC-HUS), and the kidneys are the major organs affected. The development of HUS after an infection with Stx occurs most frequently in children under the age of 5 years. However, the cause for the higher incidence of STEC-HUS in children compared to adults is still not well understood. Human glomerular microvascular endothelial cells (HGMVECs) isolated and cultured from pediatric and adult kidney tissue were investigated with respect to Stx binding and different cellular responses. Shiga toxin-1 (Stx-1) inhibited protein synthesis in both pediatric and adult HGMVECs in a dose-dependent manner at basal conditions. The preincubation of pediatric and adult HGMVECs for 24 hrs with TNFα resulted in increased Stx binding to the cell surface and a 20–40% increase in protein synthesis inhibition in both age groups. A decreased proliferation of cells was found when a bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assay was performed. A trend towards a delay in endothelial wound closure was visible when pediatric and adult HGMVECs were incubated with Stx-1. Although minor differences between pediatric HGMVECs and adult HGMVECs were found in the assays applied in this study, no significant differences were observed. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that in vitro primary HGMVECs isolated from pediatric and adult kidneys do not significantly differ in their cell biological responses to Stx-1.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a rare disease primarily characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. Endothelial damage is the hallmark of the pathogenesis of HUS with an infection with the Shiga toxin (Stx) producing Escherichia coli (STEC-HUS) as the main underlying cause in childhood. In this study, blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) were isolated from healthy donors serving as controls and patients recovered from STEC-HUS. We hypothesized that Stx is more cytotoxic for STEC-HUS BOECs compared to healthy donor control BOECs explained via a higher amount of Stx bound to the cell surface. Binding of Shiga toxin-2a (Stx2a) was investigated and the effect on cytotoxicity, protein synthesis, wound healing, and cell proliferation was studied in static conditions. Results show that BOECs are highly susceptible for Stx2a. Stx2a is able to bind to the cell surface of BOECs with cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner as a result. Pre-treatment with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) results in enhanced Stx binding with 20–30% increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Endothelial wound healing is delayed in a Stx2a-rich environment; however, this is not caused by an effect on the proliferation rate of BOECs. No significant differences were found between control BOECs and BOECs from recovered STEC-HUS patients in terms of Stx2a binding and inhibition of protein synthesis.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a severe renal disease that is often preceded by infection with Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The exact mechanism of Stx-mediated inflammation on human glomerular microvascular endothelial cells (HGMVECs) during HUS is still not well understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of Stx1 on the gene expression of proteins involved in leucocyte-mediated and complement-mediated inflammation. Our results showed that Stx1 enhances the mRNA and protein expression of heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) syndecan-4 in HGMVECs pre-stimulated with tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). CD44 was upregulated on mRNA but not on protein level; no effect on the mRNA expression of other tested HSPGs glypican-1 and betaglycan was observed. Furthermore, Stx1 upregulated the mRNA, cell surface expression, and supernatant levels of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in HGMVECs. Interestingly, no effect on the protein levels of alternative pathway (AP) components was observed, although C3 mRNA was upregulated. All observed effects were much stronger in HGMVECs than in human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs), a common model cell type used in endothelial studies. Our results provide new insights into the role of Stx1 in the pathogenesis of HUS. Possibilities to target the overexpression of syndecan-4 and ICAM-1 for STEC-HUS therapy should be investigated in future studies.