We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
The Complement System Facilitates Clearance of Enterococcus faecium during Murine Peritonitis.
- Authors
Leendertse, Masja; Willems, Rob J. L.; Flierman, Roelof; de Vos, Alex F.; Bonten, Marc J. M.; van der Poll, Tom
- Abstract
Background. Infections with multidrug-resistant enterococci are a growing problem worldwide. Little is known about the host defense against enterococcal diseases. In vitro studies have demonstrated an important role played by complement proteins in neutrophil-mediated phagocytosis. In this study, we investigated the importance of complement in an in vivo model of Enterococcus faecium peritonitis. Methods. Peripheral neutrophils and peritoneal macrophages were incubated with E. faecium that had been preincubated with decomplemented or normal plasma, and phagocytosis and killing were examined. E. faecium peritonitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice rendered complement deficient by intraperitoneal injection with cobra venom factor (CVF) and in complement 3 (C3) knockout mice. The course of the infection was compared with that in saline control and wild-type mice, respectively, at several time points up to 48 h after infection. Results. Opsonization by complement enhanced phagocytosis by neutrophils and macrophages. CVF-treated and C3 knockout mice were severely hampered in clearing E. faecium from all organs and tissues under study (peritoneal fluid, blood, lungs, and liver). Higher peritoneal cytokine and chemokine levels were measured in decomplemented mice, whereas no differences in systemic or peritoneal cell kinetics were detected. Conclusion. Complement deficiency severely hampers the clearance of E. faecium peritonitis and subsequent systemic infection.
- Subjects
ENTEROCOCCUS faecium; ENTEROCOCCAL infections; MULTIDRUG resistance; PERITONITIS; COBRA venom factor; NEUTROPHILS; PHAGOCYTOSIS; LABORATORY mice; INTRAPERITONEAL injections
- Publication
Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2010, Vol 201, Issue 4, p544
- ISSN
0022-1899
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1086/650341