Mannose-binding lectin-deficient mice are susceptible to infection with Staphylococcus aureus

J Exp Med. 2004 May 17;199(10):1379-90. doi: 10.1084/jem.20032207.

Abstract

Gram-positive organisms like Staphylococcus aureus are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Humoral response molecules together with phagocytes play a role in host responses to S. aureus. The mannose-binding lectin (MBL, also known as mannose-binding protein) is an oligomeric serum molecule that recognizes carbohydrates decorating a broad range of infectious agents including S. aureus. Circumstantial evidence in vitro and in vivo suggests that MBL plays a key role in first line host defense. We tested this contention directly in vivo by generating mice that were devoid of all MBL activity. We found that 100% of MBL-null mice died 48 h after exposure to an intravenous inoculation of S. aureus compared with 45% mortality in wild-type mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that neutrophils and MBL are required to limit intraperitoneal infection with S. aureus. Our study provides direct evidence that MBL plays a key role in restricting the complications associated with S. aureus infection in mice and raises the idea that the MBL gene may act as a disease susceptibility gene against staphylococci infections in humans.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA, Bacterial / blood
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / isolation & purification
  • Disease Susceptibility / immunology
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Mannose-Binding Lectin / deficiency*
  • Mannose-Binding Lectin / genetics
  • Mannose-Binding Lectin / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Reference Values
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Spleen / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / genetics
  • Staphylococcal Infections / immunology*

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Mannose-Binding Lectin