Missing link between hemolysis and infection found

A research group led by Sylvia Knapp, Director of Medical Affairs at CeMM and Professor of Infection Biology at the Medical University of Vienna, was able to refute this conventional way of thinking. They revealed that heme was not only failing to act as a willing nutrient to bacteria, heme was instead paralyzing the very innate immune cells sent to protect the host from the bacteria.

"Using in vitro and pre-clinical models, we could clearly demonstrate that heme-derived iron is not at all vital for bacterial growth," explains Rui Martins, PhD student at CeMM and the Medical University of Vienna, and the first author of the study. "In contrast, we found that heme acts on macrophages, the most significant immune cells that are required for mounting an antibacterial response, and it furthermore prevented these cells from eliminating bacteria."

The scientists discovered a completely unknown mechanism: The heme molecule interfered with the cytoskeleton of macrophages and thereby immobilized them. Describing the effect of heme, Martins explains further: "Heme causes cells to form numerous spikes, like hair standing on end and then "stuns" the cells within minutes. It is reminiscent of a cartoon character sticking his finger in an electrical outlet."

The cytoskeleton is crucial for the basic functions of macrophages. The cytoskeleton consists of long, branching filaments that act as the cell's internal, highly flexible and mobile framework. Through targeted build-up and breakdown of these filaments, phagocytes can move in any direction and 'eat' invading bacteria. However, this requires a finely tuned signaling program in which the protein DOCK8 plays a central role. "Through chemical proteomics and biochemical experiments, we discovered that heme interacted with DOCK8, which led to the permanent activation of its downstream target Cdc42, with deleterious effects", explains Sylvia Knapp, the senior author of the study. In the presence of heme, the cytoskeletal resilience is lost, as filaments grow rampant in all directions, resulting in macrophage paralysis--in other words, the cells lose their ability to shape-shift and can no longer chase down and 'eat' the invading bacteria. The resultant impact is that bacteria can multiply virtually unrestricted.

The loss of cytoskeletal resilience results in life-threatening conditions for millions of people worldwide, which suffer from hemolysis due to systemic inflammation (sepsis) or disorders such as sickle-cell disease, or malaria. In the recently published study, scientists led by Sylvia Knapp, were not only able to clarify the molecular effect of heme on macrophages but moreover discovered that an already available medication can restore the functionality of affected (paralyzed) macrophages. "Quinine, which is clinically used to treat malaria and is suspected to bind heme, blocks the interaction of heme with DOCK8 and thereby improves the outcome from sepsis", says Sylvia Knapp. "This is very promising. We conclusively demonstrate that it is indeed feasible to therapeutically "protect" immune cells and to restore the body's immune defense against bacteria in hemolytic conditions."