A combination of burn wound injury and Pseudomonas infection elicits unique gene expression that enhances bacterial pathogenicity

ABSTRACT Burns are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide with the most common cause of death resulting from sepsis, often from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We previously reported that a non-lethal flame burn induced an altered host immune response. Using this model, gene expression in both the murine host and P. aeruginosa was measured using a NanoString custom probe panel. We observed differing patterns of gene expression in both host and P. aeruginosa in the skin, blood, liver, and spleen of mice that were burned and/or infected, compared to mice that were neither burned nor infected (i.e., Sham). In mice that were both burned and infected (B/I), we observed changes in gene expression in both the host and P. aeruginosa that were distinct from all other treatment conditions. These data suggest that the combination of the burned state and superimposed infection affects both host and pathogen gene expression to increase infection propensity. Gene transcription significantly changed from 6 to 24 h post-B/I in each tissue. Finally, inhibiting IL-10 signaling or co-administering arginine at the time of P. aeruginosa infection prolonged or restored survival in an otherwise 100% fatal burn and infection model. These findings suggest that disease states such as burns may differentially alter innate immune response gene expression in both a host- and pathogen-specific manner. IMPORTANCE The interaction between an underlying disease process and a specific pathogen may lead to the unique expression of genes that affect bacterial pathogenesis. These genes may not be observed during infection in the absence of, or with a different underlying process or infection during the underlying process with a different pathogen. To test this hypothesis, we used Nanostring technology to compare gene transcription in a murine-burned wound infected with P. aeruginosa. The Nanostring probeset allowed the simultaneous direct comparison of immune response gene expression in both multiple host tissues and P. aeruginosa in conditions of burn alone, infection alone, and burn with infection. While RNA-Seq is used to discover novel transcripts, NanoString could be a technique to monitor specific changes in transcriptomes between samples and bypass the additional adjustments for multispecies sample processing or the need for the additional steps of alignment and assembly required for RNASeq. Using Nanostring, we identified arginine and IL-10 as important contributors to the lethal outcome of burned mice infected with P. aeruginosa. While other examples of altered gene transcription are in the literature, our study suggests that a more systematic comparison of gene expression in various underlying diseases during infection with specific bacterial pathogens may lead to the identification of unique host-pathogen interactions and result in more precise therapeutic interventions. The interaction between an underlying disease process and a specific pathogen may lead to the unique expression of genes that affect bacterial pathogenesis. These genes may not be observed during infection in the absence of, or with a different underlying process or infection during the underlying process with a different pathogen. To test this hypothesis, we used Nanostring technology to compare gene transcription in a murine-burned wound infected with P. aeruginosa. The Nanostring probeset allowed the simultaneous direct comparison of immune response gene expression in both multiple host tissues and P. aeruginosa in conditions of burn alone, infection alone, and burn with infection. While RNA-Seq is used to discover novel transcripts, NanoString could be a technique to monitor specific changes in transcriptomes between samples and bypass the additional adjustments for multispecies sample processing or the need for the additional steps of alignment and assembly required for RNASeq. Using Nanostring, we identified arginine and IL-10 as important contributors to the lethal outcome of burned mice infected with P. aeruginosa. While other examples of altered gene transcription are in the literature, our study suggests that a more systematic comparison of gene expression in various underlying diseases during infection with specific bacterial pathogens may lead to the identification of unique host-pathogen interactions and result in more precise therapeutic interventions.