In vivo fate and distribution of poly-gamma-D-glutamic acid, the capsular antigen from Bacillus anthracis.

Bacillus anthracis is surrounded by an antiphagocytic capsule composed of poly-gamma-d-glutamic acid (gammaDPGA). Bacterial and fungal capsular polysaccharides are shed into body fluids in large amounts during infection. The goal of our study was to examine the in vivo fate and distribution of the gammaDPGA capsular polypeptide. Mice were injected via the intravenous route with various amounts of purified gammaDPGA. Blood, urine, and various organs were harvested at different times after treatment. Sites of gammaDPGA accumulation were determined by immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies specific for gammaDPGA. The results showed that the liver and spleen were the primary sites for the accumulation of gammaDPGA. As found in previous studies of capsular polysaccharides, the Kupffer cells of the liver and splenic macrophages were sites for the cellular accumulation of gammaDPGA. Unlike capsular polysaccharides, the hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells were also sites for gammaDPGA accumulation. gammaDPGA was rapidly cleared from serum and was excreted into the urine. gammaDPGA in the urine showed a reduced molecular size relative to native gammaDPGA. The results indicate that in vivo clearance of the polypeptide capsular antigen of B. anthracis shares several features with the clearance of capsular polysaccharides. Key differences between the in vivo behaviors of gammaDPGA and capsular polysaccharides include the accumulation of gammaDPGA in hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells and a gammaDPGA clearance rate that was more rapid than the clearance reported for capsular polysaccharides.