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Thromb Haemost 2006; 95(06): 982-990
DOI: 10.1160/TH05-08-0572
Wound Healing and Inflammation/Infection
Schattauer GmbH

Activation of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils by streptolysin O from Streptococcus pyogenes leads to the release of proinflammatory mediators

Maria Nilsson
1   Section for Clinical and Experimental Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences and Section for Microbiology, Lund, Sweden
,
Ole E. Sørensen
1   Section for Clinical and Experimental Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences and Section for Microbiology, Lund, Sweden
,
Matthias Mörgelin
1   Section for Clinical and Experimental Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences and Section for Microbiology, Lund, Sweden
,
Maria Weineisen
2   Immunology and Glycobiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
,
Ulf Sjöbring
2   Immunology and Glycobiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
,
Heiko Herwald
1   Section for Clinical and Experimental Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences and Section for Microbiology, Lund, Sweden
› Author AffiliationsFinancial support: This work was supported in part by the foundations of Åke Wiberg, Alfred Österlund, Crafoord, Tore Nilson, Greta and Johan Kock, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, King Gustaf V’s 80-years fund, the Royal Physiographical Society in Lund, the Medical Faculty of Lund University, the Swedish Research Council (project 13413), the Blood and Defence Network at Lund University, and Hansa Medical AB.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 22 August 2005

Accepted after resubmission 01 May 2006

Publication Date:
30 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Streptococcus pyogenes is an important Gram-positive pathogen that is strictly limited to infections in humans. Here we report that streptolysin O (SLO),a cytolytic exotoxin secreted by S. pyogenes, activates human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) by perforating these cells. This appears to be followed by an influx of Ca2+ and p38 MAPK activation. As a consequence, PMNs secrete heparin-binding protein, a potent inducer of vascular leakage, and neutrophil-borne proteins, including LL-37, α-defensins, and elastase. The results of the present work therefore suggest that the interaction between SLO and PMNs evokes an exaggerated host response which may contribute to the pathogenesis of local and generalized S. pyogenes infections.

Keywords

Infectious diseases - polymorphonuclear neutrophils - Streptococcus pyogenes - streptolysin O - degranulation
 

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