Differential arthritogenicity of Staphylococcus aureusstrains isolated from biological samples

Colavite-Machado, P. M., Ishikawa, L. L. W., Donegá França, T. G., Zorzella-Pezavento, S. F. G., Camargo da Rosa, L. , Chiuso-Minicucci, F., de Souza da Cunha, M. d. L. R., Garlet, G. P. and Sartori, A. (2013) Differential arthritogenicity of Staphylococcus aureusstrains isolated from biological samples. BMC Infectious Diseases, 13, 400. (doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-400) (PMID:23988021) (PMCID:PMC3846911)

Abstract

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is the most common agent of septic arthritis that is a severe, rapidly progressive and destructive joint disease. Superantigens produced by S. aureus are considered the major arthritogenic factors. In this study, we compared the arthritogenic potential of five superantigen-producing staphylococcal strains. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were intravenously infected with ATCC 19095 SEC+, N315 ST5 TSST-1+, S-70 TSST-1+, ATCC 51650 TSST-1+ and ATCC 13565 SEA+ strains. Clinical parameters as body weight, arthritis incidence and clinical score were daily evaluated. Joint histopathological analysis and spleen cytokine production were evaluated at the 14th day after infection. Results: Weight loss was observed in all infected mice. ATCC 19095 SEC+, N315 ST5 TSST-1+ and S-70 TSST-1+ were arthritogenic, being the highest scores observed in ATCC 19095 SEC+ infected mice. Intermediate and lower clinical scores were observed in N315 ST5 TSST-1+ and S-70 TSST-1+ infected mice, respectively. The ATCC 13565 SEA+ strain caused death of 85% of the animals after 48 h. Arthritis triggered by the ATCC 19095 SEC+ strain was characterized by accentuated synovial hyperplasia, inflammation, pannus formation, cartilage destruction and bone erosion. Similar joint alterations were found in N315 ST5 TSST-1+ infected mice, however they were strikingly more discrete. Only minor synovial proliferation and inflammation were triggered by the S-70 TSST-1+ strain. The lowest levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17 production in response to S. aureus stimulation were found in cultures from mice infected with the less arthritogenic strains (S-70 TSST-1+ and ATCC 51650 TSST-1+). The highest production of IL-17 was detected in mice infected with the most arthritogenic strains (ATCC 19095 SEC+ and N315 ST5 TSST-1+). Conclusions: Together these results demonstrated that S. aureus strains, isolated from biological samples, were able to induce a typical septic arthritis in mice. These results also suggest that the variable arthritogenicity of these strains was, at least in part, related to their differential ability to induce IL-17 production.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This study was supported by grant 2011/04323-3, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and grant 472589/2011-3, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Camargo da Rosa, Dr Larissa
• Authors: Colavite-Machado, P. M., Ishikawa, L. L. W., Donegá França, T. G., Zorzella-Pezavento, S. F. G., Camargo da Rosa, L., Chiuso-Minicucci, F., de Souza da Cunha, M. d. L. R., Garlet, G. P., and Sartori, A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: BMC Infectious Diseases
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• ISSN: 1471-2334
• ISSN (Online): 1471-2334
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 Colavite-Machado et al
• First Published: First published in BMC Infectious Diseases 13: 400
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence