title: Strain-dependent disruption of blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier by Streptoccocus suis in vitro.
abstract: Streptococcus suis capsular type 2 is an important agent of diseases including meningitis among pigs worldwide, and is also a zoonotic agent. The barrier function of the choroid plexus epithelium that constitutes the structural basis for the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier has not been elucidated yet in bacterial meningitis. We investigated the influence of various S. suis isolates on the barrier function of cultured porcine choroid plexus epithelial cells with respect to the transepithelial resistance and paracellular [(3)H]-mannitol flux. Preferentially apical application of S. suis isolates significantly decreased transepithelial resistance and significantly increased paracellular [(3)H]-mannitol flux in a time-, dose- and strain-dependent manner. Viable S. suis isolates caused cytotoxicity determined by lactate dehydrogenase assay and electron microscopy, whereas S. suis sonicates and UV-inactivated S. suis did not cause cytotoxicity. The observed effects on porcine choroid plexus epithelial cells barrier function could not exclusively be ascribed to known virulence factors of S. suis such as suilysin. In conclusion, S. suis isolates induce loss of blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier function in an in vitro model. Thus, S. suis may facilitate trafficking of bacteria and leucocytes across the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. The underlying mechanisms for the barrier breakdown have yet to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of General Pediatrics, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tenenbaum
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eggelnpöhler
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matalon
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seibt
authors.forename: Gerd E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: K Novotny
authors.forename: Hans-Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Galla
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schroten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002831:Choroid Plexus / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008353:Mannitol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012703:Serotyping; D013045:Species Specificity; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D017011:Streptococcus suis / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D008353:Mannitol