S. aureus and E. coli change the force and work of adhesion between P- and E-selectins of endothelial cells and ligands of neutrophil granulocytes

Exploring the Process of Neutrophil Transendothelial Migration Using Scanning Ion-Conductance Microscopy

The dynamics of neutrophil transendothelial migration was investigated in a model of experimental septicopyemia. Scanning ion-conductance microscopy allowed us to determine changes in morphometric characteristics of endothelial cells during this process. In the presence of a pyogenic lesion simulated by Staphylococcus aureus, such migration was accompanied by both compensatory reactions and alteration of both neutrophils and endothelial cells. Neutrophils demonstrated crawling along the contact sites between endothelial cells, swarming phenomenon, as well as anergy and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) as a normergic state. Neutrophil swarming was accompanied by an increase in the intercellular spaces between endothelial cells. Endothelial cells decreased the area of adhesion to the substrate, which was determined by a decrease in the cell projection area, and the cell membrane was smoothed. However, endothelial cell rigidity was paradoxically unchanged compared to the control. Over time, neutrophil migration led to a more significant alteration of endothelial cells: first, shallow perforations in the membrane were formed, which were repaired rather quickly, then stress fibrils were formed, and finally, endothelial cells died and multiple perforations were formed on their membrane.

Staphylococcus aureus Causes the Arrest of Neutrophils in the Bloodstream in a Septicemia Model

Staphylococcus aureus induces the expression of VCAM-1, P- and E-selectins on the endothelial cells of the EA.hy926 cell line but, at the same time, causes the significant suppression of the force and work of adhesion between these receptors of endotheliocytes and the receptors of neutrophils in an experimental septicemia model. Adhesion contacts between the receptors of neutrophils and endotheliocytes are statistically significantly suppressed under non-opsonized and opsonized S. aureus treatment, which disrupts the initial stage of transendothelial migration of neutrophils—adhesion. Thus, S. aureus causes the arrest of neutrophils in the bloodstream in an experimental septicemia model.