Outer membrane protein a in Acinetobacter baumannii induces autophagy through mTOR signalling pathways in the lung of SD rats.

Abstract Outer membrane protein A (OmpA) of Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is associated with autophagy, which plays an important role in its pathogenicity. However, its exact pathophysiological role in the process of lung tissue cell autophagy remains unclear. In this study, animal and cell infection models were established by wild A. baumannii strain and An OmpA knockout mutant (OmpA-/- A. baumannii) strain. The expression levels of markers autophagy, histological change, cell viability and protein expression levels of inflammatory cytokines were examined. OmpA-/- A. baumannii was successfully constructed. The capacities of bacterial adhesion and invasion to host cells increased more obviously in the AB group and the AB + Rapa group than in the OmpA-/- AB group and AB + CQ group. The AB group and AB + Rapa group could produce double membrane vacuoles, endoplasmic reticulum dilation, mitochondrial ridge rupture, and mitochondrial vacuoles. OmpA could lead to increased LC3, AMPK, and PAMPK protein release, and decreased levels of P62, mTOR and pmTOR proteins in vivo and in vitro. OmpA caused lung pathology and the release of inflammatory cytokines. A. baumannii OmpA promotes autophagy in lung cells through the mTOR signalling pathway, which increases the bacterial colonization ability in the double-layer membrane autophagosome formed by the autophagy reaction to escape the clearance of bacteria by the host, promote the release of inflammatory mediators and aggravate the damage to the host.