Staphylococcus aureus formyl peptide receptor-like 1 inhibitor (FLIPr) and its homologue FLIPr-like are potent FcγR antagonists that inhibit IgG-mediated effector functions

J Immunol. 2013 Jul 1;191(1):353-62. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1203243. Epub 2013 Jun 5.

Abstract

To evade opsonophagocytosis, Staphylococcus aureus secretes various immunomodulatory molecules that interfere with effective opsonization by complement and/or IgG. Immune-evasion molecules targeting the phagocyte receptors for these opsonins have not been described. In this study, we demonstrate that S. aureus escapes from FcγR-mediated immunity by secreting a potent FcγR antagonist, FLIPr, or its homolog FLIPr-like. Both proteins were previously reported to function as formyl peptide receptor inhibitors. Binding of FLIPr was mainly restricted to FcγRII receptors, whereas FLIPr-like bound to different FcγR subclasses, and both competitively blocked IgG-ligand binding. They fully inhibited FcγR-mediated effector functions, including opsonophagocytosis and subsequent intracellular killing of S. aureus by neutrophils and Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of tumor cells by both neutrophils and NK cells. In vivo, treatment of mice with FLIPr-like prevented the development of an immune complex-mediated FcγR-dependent Arthus reaction. This study reveals a novel immune-escape function for S. aureus-secreted proteins that may lead to the development of new therapeutic agents in FcγR-mediated diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / immunology
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • Binding Sites, Antibody / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion / immunology
  • Leukemia P388 / immunology
  • Leukemia P388 / microbiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Phagocytosis / immunology
  • Protein Binding / immunology
  • Receptors, IgG / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, IgG / chemistry
  • Receptors, IgG / physiology
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Staphylococcal Infections / immunology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / prevention & control
  • Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development
  • Staphylococcus aureus / immunology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • FPRL1 inhibitory protein, S aureus
  • Fc gamma receptor IIA
  • Receptors, IgG
  • chemotaxis inhibitory protein, Staphylococcus aureus