Autor(es):
França, Ângela Maria Oliveira Sousa ; Pérez-Cabezas, Begoña ; Correia, Alexandra ; Pier, G. B. ; Cerca, Nuno ; Vilanova, Manuel
Data: 2016
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/43286
Origem: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
Projeto/bolsa:
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/5876-PPCDTI/113450/PT
;
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/5876/147337/PT;
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/5876-PPCDTI/126270/PT
;
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/COMPETE/126270/PT;
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/SFRH/SFRH%2FBPD%2F91623%2F2012/PT;
Assunto(s): S. epidermidis; biofilms; biofilm-released cells; splenocytes transcriptome; pro-inflammatory cytokines; tissue colonization; Science & Technology
Descrição
Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation on indwelling medical devices is frequently associated with the development of chronic infections. Nevertheless, it has been suggested that cells released from these biofilms may induce severe acute infections with bacteraemia as one of its major associated clinical manifestations. However, how biofilm-released cells interact with the host remains unclear. Here, using a murine model of hematogenously disseminated infection, we characterized the interaction of cells released from S. epidermidis biofilms with the immune system. Gene expression analysis of mouse splenocytes suggested that biofilm-released cells might be particularly effective at activating inflammatory and antigen presenting cells and inducing cellular apoptosis. Furthermore, biofilm-released cells induced a higher production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, in contrast to mice infected with planktonic cells, even though these had a similar bacterial load in livers and spleens. Overall, these results not only provide insights into the understanding of the role of biofilm-released cells in S. epidermidis biofilm-related infections and pathogenesis, but may also help explain the relapsing character of these infections.
This work was supported by European Union funds (FEDER/COMPETE) and by national funds (FCT) under the project with reference FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-014309 (PTDC/BIA-MIC/113450/2009). The authors thank the FCT Strategic Project of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, and the project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462). NC is an Investigator FCT. AF is supported by the FCT fellowship SFRH/BPD/99961/2014 and AC by the fellowship SFRH/BPD/91623/2012.The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
