Journal Article

The chemorepellent, SLIT2, bolsters innate immunity against Staphylococcus aureus

Grinstein, Sergio, Li, Zhubing, Westman, Johannes, Sharma, Manraj, Glogauer, Judah, Fine, Noah, Maynes, Jason T, Patel, Sajedabanu, Toepfner, Nicole, Sun, Chunxiang, Robinson, Lisa A, Bhosle, Vikrant K, Langari, Fatemeh Mirshafiei, Glogauer, Michael, Lee, Warren L, Capurro, Mariana I, Ho, Tse Wing Winnie, Ammendolia, Dustin A, Jones, Nicola L

2023

Overview

Neutrophils are essential for host defense against Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ). The neuro-repellent, SLIT2, potently inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis, and might, therefore, be expected to impair antibacterial responses. We report here that, unexpectedly, neutrophils exposed to the N-terminal SLIT2 (N-SLIT2) fragment kill extracellular S. aureus more efficiently. N-SLIT2 amplifies reactive oxygen species production in response to the bacteria by activating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase that in turn phosphorylates NCF1, an essential subunit of the NADPH oxidase complex. N-SLIT2 also enhances the exocytosis of neutrophil secondary granules. In a murine model of S. aureus skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI), local SLIT2 levels fall initially but increase subsequently, peaking at 3 days after infection. Of note, the neutralization of endogenous SLIT2 worsens SSTI. Temporal fluctuations in local SLIT2 levels may promote neutrophil recruitment and retention at the infection site and hasten bacterial clearance by augmenting neutrophil oxidative burst and degranulation. Collectively, these actions of SLIT2 coordinate innate immune responses to limit susceptibility to S. aureus .

• Publisher: eLife Science Publications, Ltd,eLife Sciences Publications Ltd,eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
• Subject: Analysis / Animal models / Antibacterial agents / Bacteria / Bacterial infections / Bone marrow / Cell Biology / Chemotaxis / Degranulation / Exocytosis / Experiments / Health aspects / Immune clearance / Immune response / Infection / Innate immunity / Kinases / Leukocytes (neutrophilic) / LL-37 / MAP kinase / Microbiology and Infectious Disease / Mitogens / NAD(P)H oxidase / Nervous system / Neutrophils / Oxidases / p38 MAPK / Protein kinases / Reactive oxygen species / ROBO1 / Scientific equipment and supplies industry / SLIT2 / staphylococcus / Staphylococcus aureus / Staphylococcus aureus infections / Staphylococcus infections