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Autophagic Punctum

Beclin 1 modulates the anti-apoptotic activity of Bcl-2: Insights from a pathogen infection system

Cristina Lourdes Vázquez and María Isabel Colombo

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular bacterium that generates large vacuoles in which this pathogen replicates and survives. We have previously demonstrated that C. burnetii interacts with the autophagic pathway as a strategy for its survival and replication. Coxiella displays an anti-apoptotic activity to maintain host cell viability, leading to a persistent infection. Our recent study reveals that Beclin 1 is recruited to the Coxiella-membrane vacuole favoring its development and bacterial replication. In contrast, the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 alters the normal development of the Coxiella-replicative compartment. In addition, our results indicate that C. burnetii infection modulates autophagy and apoptotic pathways via Beclin 1-Bcl-2 interplay to establish a successful infection in the host cell. Of note, this pathogen-host cell model has allowed uncovering a novel function of Beclin 1 as a regulator of the anti-apoptotic activity of Bcl-2. We have also established that a proper interplay between Beclin 1 and Bcl-2 is required for both autophagy and apoptosis modulation.

Punctum to: Vázquez CL, Colombo MI. Coxiella burnetii modulates Beclin 1 and Bcl-2, preventing host cell apoptosis to generate a persistent bacterial infection. Cell Death Differ 2009; In press; PMID: 19798108; DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2009.129.

Authors

Cristina Lourdes Vázquez

Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Instituto de Histología y Embriología (IHEM); Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Universidad Nacional de Cuyo-CONICET; Mendoza, Argentina

María Isabel Colombo Corresponding author: mcolombo@fcm.uncu.edu.ar

Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Instituto de Histología y Embriología (IHEM); Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Universidad Nacional de Cuyo-CONICET; Mendoza, Argentina