Subversion of interleukin-1-mediated host defence by a nasal carrier strain of Staphylococcus aureus

    Authors

    G. A. Quinn; P. M. Tarwater;A. M. Cole

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Immunology

    Keywords

    bacteria; bacterial immunity; cytokines; innate immunity; ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY; ESCHERICHIA-COLI; GROWTH; COLONIZATION; ENHANCEMENT; SECRETIONS; IL-1-BETA; Immunology

    Abstract

    P>Staphylococcus aureus, a major source of nosocomial and community-acquired infections, has a nasal carriage rate exceeding 25% in the human population. To elucidate host-pathogen interactions pertaining to nasal carriage, we examined the role of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in the colonization of human nasal epithelial cells (NEC) by a nasal carrier strain and a non-carrier strain of S. aureus. Using an organotypic model of the nasal epithelium, we observed that inoculation with a non-carrier strain of S. aureus induced production of IL-1 from NEC, but the expression of this cytokine was significantly reduced when NEC were inoculated with a carrier strain. Moreover, both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta significantly decreased the growth of the nasal carrier strain of S. aureus (P < 0 center dot 001, n = 17 to n = 25); however the growth of the non-carrier strain was unaffected. Interestingly, it was found that several nasal carrier strains of S. aureus form quorum-dependent biofilms, which can be partially inhibited when preincubated with IL-1 alpha. Taken together these data suggest that, although nasal carrier strains of S. aureus are sensitive to IL-1, they display a significant colonization advantage by both preventing the host from expressing IL-1 and elaborating a protective biofilm.

    Journal Title

    Immunology

    Volume

    128

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2009

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    e222

    Last Page

    e229

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000268703800007

    ISSN

    0019-2805

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