GABAergic signaling linked to autophagy enhances host protection against intracellular bacterial infections. Issue 1 (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Jin; Kim, Yi; Lee, Hye-Mi; Jin, Hyo; Neupane, Chiranjivi; Kim, Sup; Lee, Sang-Hee; Min, Jung-Joon; Sasai, Miwa; Jeong, Jae-Ho; Choe, Seong-Kyu; Kim, Jin-Man; Yamamoto, Masahiro; Choy, Hyon; Park, Jin; Jo, Eun-Kyeong
• Is Part Of: Nature communications. Volume 9:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 17
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Biology -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Periodicals; 505
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06487-5
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-1723

Abstract

Abstract Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain; however, the roles of GABA in antimicrobial host defenses are largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that GABAergic activation enhances antimicrobial responses against intracellular bacterial infection. Intracellular bacterial infection decreases GABA levels in vitro in macrophages and in vivo in sera. Treatment of macrophages with GABA or GABAergic drugs promotes autophagy activation, enhances phagosomal maturation and antimicrobial responses against mycobacterial infection. In macrophages, the GABAergic defense is mediated via macrophage type A GABA receptor (GABAA R), intracellular calcium release, and the GABA type A receptor-associated protein-like 1 (GABARAPL1; an Atg8 homolog). Finally, GABAergic inhibition increases bacterial loads in mice and zebrafish in vivo, suggesting that the GABAergic defense plays an essential function in metazoan host defenses. Our study identified a previously unappreciated role for GABAergic signaling in linking antibacterial autophagy to enhance host innate defense against intracellular bacterial infection. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in neuronal systems, but the potential role for such neurotransmitters on the immune system are emerging. Here the authors show GABA signaling is linked to autophagy, enhancing the host response against intracellular bacteria.