Social amoebae trap and kill bacteria by casting DNA nets

Xuezhi Zhang, Olga Zhuchenko, Adam Kuspa and Thierry Soldati ()
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Xuezhi Zhang: Science II, University of Geneva
Olga Zhuchenko: Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza
Adam Kuspa: Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza
Thierry Soldati: Science II, University of Geneva

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Extracellular traps (ETs) from neutrophils are reticulated nets of DNA decorated with anti-microbial granules, and are capable of trapping and killing extracellular pathogens. Various phagocytes of mammals and invertebrates produce ETs, however, the evolutionary history of this DNA-based host defence strategy is unclear. Here we report that Sentinel (S) cells of the multicellular slug stage of the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum produce ETs upon stimulation with bacteria or lipopolysaccharide in a reactive oxygen species-dependent manner. The production of ETs by S cells requires a Toll/Interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing protein TirA and reactive oxygen species-generating NADPH oxidases. Disruption of these genes results in decreased clearance of bacterial infections. Our results demonstrate that D. discoideum is a powerful model organism to study the evolution and conservation of mechanisms of cell-intrinsic immunity, and suggest that the origin of DNA-based ETs as an innate immune defence predates the emergence of metazoans.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10938

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