AJP - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Vol 267, Issue 5 551-L556, Copyright © 1994 by American Physiological Society
Exoproduct secretions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains influence severity of alveolar epithelial injury
I. Kudoh, J. P. Wiener-Kronish, S. Hashimoto, J. F. Pittet and D. Frank
Department of Anesthesia, University of California at San Francisco 94143-0130.
To determine whether exoenzyme S plays a role in alveolar epithelial
injury, two parental strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, PAK and PA103, were
tested that produced large quantities of exoenzyme S. Strains PAK and PA103
differ in the form of exoenzyme S they produce. Strain PAK produces a
53-kDa protein that does not possess ADP-ribosyltransferase activity and
large quantities of a 49-kDa protein that expresses ADP-ribosyltransferase
activity. Strain PA103 produces the 53-kDa protein and low amounts of
exoenzyme S activity. A quantitative experimental protocol was used to
measure the protein permeability of the alveolar epithelium and the
dissemination of the bacteria to the pleural space and circulation. The
results indicate that instillation of PAK and PA103 resulted in significant
lung injury. Control experiments utilizing isogenic, exoenzyme S-deficient,
regulatory mutants in the infection model reduced the lung injury and the
dissemination of instilled bacteria. Taken together these results suggest
that alveolar epithelial injury correlated with the production of the
53-kDa form of exoenzyme S or other coordinately regulated factors.
