Legionella pneumophila infection of macrophages alters the amount and miRNA content of released exosomes

Introduction: Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) is a common cause of severe community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia. Upon its transmission to the human lung, L. pneumophila primarily enters and replicates in macrophages, however resolution of the infection requires multiple cell types and abundant cross talk between immune cells. Among other cellular interactions secreted membranous vesicles have recently emerged as means of transport for functional proteins, messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and miRNAs between cells. Methods and results: In this study, we quantified and qualified membranous vesicles secreted by t…