Human GBP1 facilitates the rupture of the Legionella-containing vacuole and inflammasome activation

ABSTRACT The inflammasome is essential for host defense against intracellular bacterial pathogens, including Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of the severe pneumonia Legionnaires’ disease. Inflammasomes recruit and activate caspases, which promote IL-1 family cytokine release and pyroptosis to restrict infection. In mice, interferon (IFN) signaling promotes inflammasome responses against L. pneumophila and other bacteria, in part, through inducing a family of IFN-inducible GTPases known as guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs). Within murine macrophages, IFN promotes the rupture of the L. pneumophila-containing vacuole (LCV), while GBPs are dispensable for vacuole rupture. Instead, GBPs facilitate the lysis of cytosol-exposed L. pneumophila. In contrast, the functions of IFN-γ and GBPs in human inflammasome responses to L. pneumophila are poorly understood. Here, we show that IFN-γ enhances caspase-1- and caspase-4-dependent inflammasome responses to L. pneumophila in human macrophages. We find that human GBP1 is required for these IFN-γ-driven inflammasome responses. Furthermore, we find that GBP1 co-localizes with L. pneumophila and/or LCVs in a type IV secretion system (T4SS)-dependent manner and facilitates damage to the LCV, resulting in increased bacterial access to the host cell cytosol. Our findings reveal species- and pathogen-specific differences in how GBPs function during infection. Importance Inflammasomes are essential for host defense against intracellular bacterial pathogens like Legionella, as they activate caspases, which promote cytokine release and cell death to control infection. In mice, interferon (IFN) signaling promotes inflammasome responses against bacteria by inducing a family of IFN-inducible GTPases known as guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs). Within murine macrophages, IFN promotes the rupture of the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV), while GBPs are dispensable for this process. Instead, GBPs facilitate the lysis of cytosol-exposed Legionella. In contrast, the functions of IFN and GBPs in human inflammasome responses to Legionella are poorly understood. We show that IFN-γ enhances inflammasome responses to Legionella in human macrophages. Human GBP1 is required for these IFN-γ-driven inflammasome responses. Furthermore, GBP1 co-localizes with Legionella and/or LCVs in a type IV secretion system (T4SS)-dependent manner and promotes damage to the LCV, which leads to increased exposure of the bacteria to the host cell cytosol. Thus, our findings reveal species- and pathogen-specific differences in how GBPs function to promote inflammasome responses.