Interactions of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with Adherent Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes
Open Access
- 1 April 2005
- journal article
- Published by American Society for Microbiology in Infection and Immunity
- Vol. 73 (4), 1971-1977
- https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.73.4.1971-1977.2005
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes severe exudative urethritis. The exudates from infected individuals contain large numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) with ingested gonococci. The fate of N. gonorrhoeae within PMN has been a topic of debate for years. In this study, we examined the interactions of N. gonorrhoeae with PMN adherent to surfaces as a system that better models events during clinical disease. Using chemiluminescence to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS), we found that N. gonorrhoeae stimulated PMN to produce a respiratory burst. Different kinetics were seen when PMN were stimulated with opsonized zymosan particles. In addition, ROS were produced predominantly inside the PMN in response to gonococci. Laser scanning confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that N. gonorrhoeae rapidly associated with PMN under these experimental conditions and was internalized. Some gonococci were cleared in the first 30 to 60 min after phagocytosis, but a majority of the population persisted for 6 h after phagocytosis. Quantification of viable organisms showed that a significant portion of the population resisted killing. The viability of this subpopulation remained unchanged for 2 h after phagocytosis. A significant increase of viable gonococci from 1 to 6 h was also observed, suggesting intracellular replication. Four different N. gonorrhoeae strains demonstrated the same capacity to resist PMN-mediated killing, whereas Escherichia coli was rapidly killed by PMN under the same conditions. Taken together, these findings suggest that a subpopulation of N. gonorrhoeae resists killing and replicates within PMN phagosomes in spite of NADPH oxidase activation.Keywords
This publication has 69 references indexed in Scilit:
- Defenses against Oxidative Stress inNeisseria gonorrhoeaeandNeisseria meningitidis:Distinctive Systems for Different LifestylesThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2004
- OxyR Acts as a Repressor of Catalase Expression in Neisseria gonorrhoeaeInfection and Immunity, 2003
- Modification by Sialic Acid of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Lipooligosaccharide Epitope Expression in Human Urethral Exudates: An Immunoelectron Microscopic AnalysisThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1990
- Neutrophil activation on biological surfaces. Massive secretion of hydrogen peroxide in response to products of macrophages and lymphocytes.JCI Insight, 1987
- Demonstration of Intracellular Growth of Gonococci in Human Phagocytes using Spectinomycin to Kill Extracellular OrganismsJournal of General Microbiology, 1979
- The Intracellular Survival and Growth of Gonococci in Human PhagocytesJournal of General Microbiology, 1979
- Resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Grown in vivo to Ingestion and Digestion by Phagocytes of Human BloodJournal of General Microbiology, 1976
- Penetration of Penicillin into Human Phagocytes Containing Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Intracellular Survival and Growth at Optimum Concentrations of AntibioticJournal of General Microbiology, 1976
- Electron microscopy of gonococci in the urethral secretions of patients with gonorrhoea treated with penicillin and erythromycin.Sexually Transmitted Infections, 1974
- Electron microscope studies of gonococci in the urethral secretions of patients with gonorrhoea.Sexually Transmitted Infections, 1971