Mast cells play a crucial role in Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan-induced diarrhea

Am J Pathol. 2007 Aug;171(2):537-47. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2007.061274. Epub 2007 Jun 28.

Abstract

Bacterium-induced diarrhea results in 2 to 2.5 million deaths in the world each year. The mechanism needs to be further understood. Staphylococcus aureus infection has a close relation with diarrhea; its cell wall component peptidoglycan (PGN) has strong biological activity on immune cells and possibly plays a role in S. aureus-induced diarrhea. The present study showed that oral PGN-induced diarrhea in mice in a dose-dependent manner. Intestinal epithelial cells absorbed PGN via the intracellular pathway. Intestinal mast cells were activated after PGN gavage. Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 expression was detected in mast cells in the intestine as well as in the murine mast cell line p815 cells. Blocking TLR2 or nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)1 with related antibodies or RNA interference abolished PGN-induced p815 cell activation. The mast cell mediator histamine and serotonin had synergistic effects in PGN-induced diarrhea. In summary, oral PGN can induce diarrhea in mice, and TLR2 and NOD1 mediate the PGN-induced mast cell activation that plays a critical role in diarrhea induction. Blockade of TLR2 or NOD1 or treating mice with a mast cell stabilizer can efficiently inhibit PGN-induced-diarrhea, providing potential therapeutic significance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Degranulation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Diarrhea / chemically induced*
  • Diarrhea / metabolism
  • Diarrhea / prevention & control
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Synergism
  • Gene Expression
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / ultrastructure
  • Intracellular Fluid / metabolism
  • Ketotifen / pharmacology
  • Mast Cells / drug effects
  • Mast Cells / metabolism
  • Mast Cells / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein / genetics
  • Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein / metabolism
  • Peptidoglycan / administration & dosage
  • Peptidoglycan / metabolism
  • Peptidoglycan / toxicity*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Serotonin Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / chemistry*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists
  • Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein
  • Nod1 protein, mouse
  • Peptidoglycan
  • Serotonin Antagonists
  • Tlr2 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Ketotifen