Abstract
The murine astrocyte response to virulent Streptococcus suis, a swine and an emerging human meningitis-causing pathogen, is reported. Albeit astrocytes do not internalize S. suis, all S. suis strains studied enhanced Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 expression and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Cell wall components and hemolysin (suilysin) are shown to be mainly responsible for cell activation. Astrocytes from TLR2 knockout mice presented a partial but significant reduction of S. suis-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results contribute to increase the knowledge on mechanisms underlying S. suis inflammation in the brain.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Analysis of Variance
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Astrocytes / metabolism*
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Astrocytes / microbiology*
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Cell Survival
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Cells, Cultured
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Cerebral Cortex / cytology
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Cricetinae
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Cytokines / metabolism
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Disease Models, Animal
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Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
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Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Microscopy, Confocal
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Mutation / genetics
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Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
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Phagocytosis / physiology
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Streptococcus suis* / pathogenicity
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Time Factors
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Toll-Like Receptor 2 / deficiency
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Toll-Like Receptor 2 / metabolism*
Substances
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Cytokines
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
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RNA, Messenger
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Tlr2 protein, mouse
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Toll-Like Receptor 2
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Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II