Adaptive immune response to lipoproteins of Staphylococcus aureus in healthy subjects.
Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent commensal but also a dangerous pathogen, causing many forms of infection ranging from mild to life-threatening conditions. Among its virulence factors are lipoproteins, which are anchored in the bacterial cell membrane. Lipoproteins perform various functions in colonization, immune evasion, and immunomodulation. These proteins are potent activators of innate immune receptors termed Toll-like receptors 2 and 6. This study addressed the specific B-cell and T-cell responses directed to lipoproteins in human S. aureus carriers and non-carriers. 2D immune proteomics and ELISA approaches revealed that titers of antibodies (IgG) binding to S. aureus lipoproteins were very low. Proliferation assays and cytokine profiling data showed only subtle responses of T cells; some lipoproteins did not elicit proliferation. Hence, the robust activation of the innate immune system by S. aureus lipoproteins does not translate into a strong adaptive immune response. Reasons for this may include inaccessibility of lipoproteins for B cells as well as ineffective processing and presentation of the antigens to T cells.
Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Chi Hai
CH
Vu
Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.|Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Julia
J
Kolata
Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Sebastian
S
Stentzel
Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Anica
A
Beyer
Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Manuela
M
Gesell Salazar
Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Leif
L
Steil
Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Jan
J
Pané-Farré
Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Vanessa
V
Rühmling
Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.|Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Microbial Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany.|Institute for Microbiology, University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.
Susanne
S
Engelmann
Department of Microbial Genetics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Friedrich
F
Götz
Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Jan Maarten
JM
van Dijl
Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Michael
M
Hecker
Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Ulrike
U
Mäder
Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Frank
F
Schmidt
Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Uwe
U
Völker
Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. broeker@uni-greifswald.de.
Barbara M
BM
Bröker
D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020543:Proteome / Q000276:immunology; D040901:Proteomics; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008074:Lipoproteins; D020543:Proteome; D037521:Virulence Factors
Antibody; Human; Lipoprotein; Microbiology; S. aureus; T cell