title: Plasminogen enhances virulence of group A streptococci by streptokinase-dependent and streptokinase-independent mechanisms.
abstract: Interactions between host plasminogen (Plg) and streptokinase (SK) secreted by group A streptococci (GAS) have been hypothesized to promote bacterial invasion of tissues. The virulence of GAS strain UMAA2616, after being subcutaneously inoculated into mice, was studied. Skin lesions and mortality were observed after inoculation of 7x106 cfu. Coadministration of human Plg with UMAA2616 markedly increased virulence. SK-deficient UMAA2616 (UMAA2616-SK(-)) was generated. Mean skin-lesion area and mortality, after bacterial inoculation (3x105 cfu), were significantly greater with UMAA2616 in the presence of human Plg than with UMAA2616-SK(-) in the presence of human Plg (P=.0001). Human Plg also enhanced UMAA2616-SK(-) virulence. Exogenous human Plg enhanced the virulence of MGAS166, a human clinical isolate. These findings suggest that SK-Plg interactions are an important determinant of GAS invasiveness in vivo and that both SK and host Plg activators appear to promote virulence of GAS by catalyzing plasmin formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0644, US.
authors.forename: Jinmo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khil
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.forename: Ulrika
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ringdahl
authors.forename: Lakshmi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mundada
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cary Engleberg
authors.forename: William P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Fay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D010958:Plasminogen; D013300:Streptokinase