Versatile roles of CspA orthologs in complement inactivation of serum-resistant Lyme disease spirochetes

Infect Immun. 2014 Jan;82(1):380-92. doi: 10.1128/IAI.01094-13. Epub 2013 Nov 4.

Abstract

CspA of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi represents a key molecule in immune evasion, protecting borrelial cells from complement-mediated killing. As previous studies focused almost exclusively on CspA of B. burgdorferi, here we investigate the different binding capacities of CspA orthologs of Borrelia burgdorferi, B. afzelii, and B. spielmanii for complement regulator factor H and plasminogen and their ability to inhibit complement activation by either binding these host-derived plasma proteins or independently by direct interaction with components involved in formation of the lethal, pore-like terminal complement complex. To further examine their function in serum resistance in vivo, a serum-sensitive B. garinii strain was used to generate spirochetes, ectopically producing functional CspA orthologs. Irrespective of their species origin, all three CspA orthologs impart resistance to complement-mediated killing when produced in a serum-sensitive B. garinii surrogate strain. To analyze the inhibitory effect on complement activation and to assess the potential to inactivate C3b by binding of factor H and plasminogen, recombinant CspA orthologs were also investigated. All three CspA orthologs simultaneously bound factor H and plasminogen but differed in regard to their capacity to inactivate C3b via bound plasmin(ogen) and inhibit formation of the terminal complement complex. CspA of B. afzelii binds plasmin(ogen) and inhibits the terminal complement complex more efficiently than CspA of B. burgdorferi and B. spielmanii. Taken together, CspA orthologs of serum-resistant Lyme disease spirochetes act as multifunctional evasion molecules that inhibit complement on two central activation levels, C3b generation and assembly of the terminal complement complex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • Bacteriolysis / physiology
  • Blood Bactericidal Activity
  • Borrelia / physiology
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Complement C3b / metabolism
  • Complement System Proteins / metabolism*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Lyme Disease / immunology
  • Lyme Disease / microbiology*
  • Plasminogen / metabolism
  • Protein Binding / physiology

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • cold shock protein CS7.4, Bacteria
  • Complement C3b
  • Plasminogen
  • Complement System Proteins