Published January 4, 2021 | Version 2
Journal article Open

Borrelia burgdorferi infection induces longterm memory-like responses in macrophages with tissue-wide consequences in the heart

  • 1. Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Spain
  • 2. Proteomics Platform, ProteoRed-ISCIII, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
  • 3. Physiopathology of the Hypoxia-Signaling Pathway Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
  • 4. Genomic Analysis Platform, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
  • 5. Metabolomics Platform, CIC bioGUNEBRTA, Derio, Spain
  • 6. Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  • 7. Liver Diseases Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain
  • 8. Genomic Analysis Platform, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain, 5 Metabolomics Platform, CIC bioGUNEBRTA, Derio, Spain
  • 9. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocı´o/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
  • 10. Bioinformatics Service, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, Derio, Spain

Description

Lyme carditis is an extracutaneous manifestation of Lyme disease characterized by episodes of atrioventricular block of varying degrees and additional, less reported cardiomyopathies. The molecular changes associated with the response to Borrelia burgdorferi over the course of infection are poorly understood. Here, we identify broad transcriptomic and proteomic changes in the heart during infection that reveal a profound down-regulation of mitochondrial components. We also describe the long-term functional modulation of macrophages exposed to live bacteria, characterized by an augmented glycolytic output, increased spirochetal binding and internalization, and reduced inflammatory responses. In vitro, glycolysis inhibition reduces the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by memory macrophages, whereas in vivo, it produces the reversion of the memory phenotype, the recovery of tissue mitochondrial components, and decreased inflammation and spirochetal burdens. These results show that Bburgdorferi induces long-term, memory-like responses in macrophages with tissue-wide consequences that are amenable to be manipulated in vivo.

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