FIGURE SUMMARY
Title

Mycobacterial infection-induced miR-206 inhibits protective neutrophil recruitment via the CXCL12/CXCR4 signalling axis

Authors
Wright, K., de Silva, K., Plain, K.M., Purdie, A.C., Blair, T.A., Duggin, I.G., Britton, W.J., Oehlers, S.H.
Source
Full text @ PLoS Pathog.

Infection-induced miR-206 expression alters bacterial burden.

(A) Expression of miR-206 analysed by qPCR at 1, 3, and 5 dpi. (B) Expression of miR-206 in uninfected and infected antagomir-injected embryos (miR-206 knockdown). (C) M. marinum burden in miR-206 knockdown embryos at 1 and 3 dpi. (D) Expression of miR-206 at 1 dpi following infection with either wild-type (WT) M. marinum, ΔESX1 M. marinum, or UPEC. (E) ΔESX1 M. marinum burden in miR-206 knockdown embryos at 1 and 3 dpi. (F) UPEC burden in antagomir-injected embryos at 6 hpi and 1 dpi. Each data point represents a single measurement, with the mean and SEM shown. For qPCR analysis, each data point represents 10 embryos, and contains 2 biological replicates. Bacterial burden analysis data points (WT M. marinum, ΔESX1 M. marinum, and UPEC) represent individual embryos (n = 40–50 embryos per group) and are representative of 2 biological replicates.

Expression profiles of potential mRNA targets of miR-206.

(A) Expression of candidate target genes measured by qPCR at 1 dpi in miR-206 knockdown embryos. (B-D) Expression of zebrafish CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway ortholog genes at 3 dpi. Each data point represents a single measurement of 10 pooled embryos and 2 biological replicates, with the mean and SEM shown.

(A) Representative images of infection phenotype at 3 dpi in control and miR-206 knockdown embryos. White arrows indicate bacterial foci. Neutrophils are red (lyzC:dsred) and M. marinum is green (wasabi); co-localisation is indicated by yellow fluorescence. (B) Measurement of whole-body neutrophil fluorescent area at 1 and 3 dpi in miR-206 knockdown embryos. (C) Measurement of neutrophil levels following trunk infection with M. marinum in miR-206 knockdown embryos. (D) Measurement of neutrophil retention at sites of infection following trunk infection with M. marinum in control and miR-206 knockdown embryos. (E) Measurement of neutrophil recruitment to a sterile tail fin wound in miR-206 knockdown embryos. Each data point represents a single measurement, with the mean and SEM shown. For time-lapse imaging, each data point represents the mean of 6 foci of infection from 6 separate embryos. Neutrophil retention was measured by selecting 10 random cells in 3 embryos per group and measuring the time spent at the granuloma. Bacterial burden analysis was performed on 15–20 embryos per treatment. Graphs are representative of 2 biological replicates. * P < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.

Increased miR-206 knockdown-associated neutrophils prevent bacterial dissemination.

(A-B) Representative images of bacterial granulomas in trunk-infected control and miR-206 knockdown embryos. (C) Quantification of M. marinum burden in trunk-infected control and miR-206 knockdown embryos. (D-E) Representative images of M. marinum-neutrophil interactions in trunk-infected control and miR-206 knockdown embryos. Neutrophils are red Tg(lyzC:dsred) and M. marinum is green (wasabi); co-localisation is indicated by yellow fluorescence. (F) Quantification of the proportion of the bacterial fluorescence overlapping with neutrophil fluorescence (co-localisation yellow fluorescence in D-E) in trunk-infected control and miR-206 knockdown embryos. Each data point represents the mean of 6 foci of infection from 6 separate embryos with SEM shown. Differences between groups was calculated using multiple t-tests and the Holm-Sidak method.

Cxcr4 reduction places the Cxcl12/Cxcr4 signalling axis downstream of miR-206.

(A) Whole body neutrophil counts at 3 dpi of cxcr4b and double (cxcr4b and miR-206) knockdown embryos. (B) Measurement of neutrophil levels following trunk infection with M. marinum in double knockdown embryos. (C) Bacterial burden at 3 dpi in M. marinum-infected double knockdown embryos. (D) Whole body neutrophil counts at 3 dpi in miR-206 knockdown embryos treatment with AMD3100. (E) Measurement of neutrophil recruitment to M. marinum following trunk injection in miR-206 knockdown embryos treatment with AMD3100. (F) Bacterial burden at 3 dpi in miR-206 knockdown embryos treatment with AMD3100. Each data point represents a single measurement, with the mean and SEM shown. For time-lapse imaging, each data point represents the mean of 6 foci of infection from 6 separate embryos. Bacterial burden analysis was performed on 15–25 embryos per treatment. Graphs are representative of 2 biological replicates, except for AMD3100 data, which is a single biological replicate.

Cxcl12a knockdown places the Cxcl12/Cxcr4 signalling axis downstream of miR-206.

(A) Whole body neutrophil counts at 3 dpi of cxcl12a and double (cxcl12a and miR-206) knockdown embryos. (B) Measurement of neutrophil recruitment to M. marinum following trunk injection in double knockdown embryos. (C) Bacterial burden at 3 dpi in M. marinum-infected double knockdown embryos. Each data point represents a single measurement, with the mean and SEM shown. For time-lapse imaging, each data point represents the mean of 4 foci of infection from 4 separate embryos. Bacterial burden analysis was performed on 20–30 embryos per treatment. Graphs are representative of 2 biological replicates.

Acknowledgments
This image is the copyrighted work of the attributed author or publisher, and ZFIN has permission only to display this image to its users. Additional permissions should be obtained from the applicable author or publisher of the image. Full text @ PLoS Pathog.