Initial Host Response to Bacteria in the Murine Lung Differs Between Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Phagocytosis of bacteria is an important process during early host defence. It has been directly observed only ex vivo or in vitro. Here, we report on the observation of phagocytosis under in vivo conditions by using intravital microscopy in the murine lung. Suspensions of fluorescently labelled Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells were each instilled intratracheally to anaesthetized mice. After thoracotomy, the alveolar surface was observed for 30 min. Alveolar phagocytes exhibiting ingested bacteria could be detected and counted. The highest numbers were found after the infection with P. aeruginosa. By using intravital microscopy, cellular host defence could be observed in living mice lungs. The initial phagocytic reaction crucially depends on the species of applied bacteria invading the lung.
Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, Kirrberger Strasse, 66421, Homburg, Saar, Germany.
Liselotte
L
Preu
Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Kirrberger Strasse, 66421, Homburg, Saar, Germany.
Markus
M
Bischoff
Trauma Surgery, Saarland University, Kirrberger Strasse, 66421, Homburg, Saar, Germany.
Nils T
NT
Veith
Bayer HealthCare, Bayer Pharma AG, Global Drug Discovery - Global Early Development, Postfach, 101709, 42096, Wuppertal, Germany.
Martin
M
Rosenbruch
Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany.
Dirk
D
Theegarten
Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, Kirrberger Strasse, 66421, Homburg, Saar, Germany.
Matthias W
MW
Laschke
Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, Kirrberger Strasse, 66421, Homburg, Saar, Germany.
Carola
C
Meier
Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, Kirrberger Strasse, 66421, Homburg, Saar, Germany. thomas.tschernig@uks.eu.
Thomas
T
Tschernig
D000818:Animals; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D000069416:Intravital Microscopy; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000276:immunology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes
Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus pneumoniae; alveolar phagocytes; host defence; in vivo microscopy; phagocytosis