Xanthine Oxidase Contributes to Host Defense against Burkholderia cepacia in the p47(phox−/−) Mouse Model of Chronic Granulomatous Disease

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited disorder of the NADPH oxidase in which phagocytes are defective in generating superoxide and downstream microbicidal reactive oxidants, leading to recurrent life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections. Xanthine oxidase (XO) is another enzyme known to produce superoxide in many tissues. Using the p47(phox−/−) mouse model of CGD, we evaluated the residual antibacterial activity of XO. Clearance of Burkholderia cepacia, a major pathogen in CGD, was reduced in p47(phox−/−) mice compared to that in wild-type mice and was further inhibited in p47(phox−/−) mice by pretreatment with the specific XO inhibitor allopurinol. Hepatic B. cepacia burden was similar in the two genotypes, but allopurinol significantly reduced net hepatic killing and killing efficiency only in p47(phox−/−) mice. Clearance and killing of intravenous Escherichia coli was intact in p47(phox−/−) mice and was unaffected by pretreatment with allopurinol. In CGD, XO may contribute to host defense against a subset of reactive oxidant-sensitive pathogens.