Receptor-dependent phagocytosis of <i>Clostridium sordellii</i> by human decidual macrophages

<p><em>Clostridium sordellii</em> is an emerging pathogen associated with highly-lethal female reproductive tract (FRT) infections following childbirth, abortion, or cervical instrumentation. Gaps in our understanding of the pathogenesis of <em>C. sordelli</em>i infections present major challenges to the development of better preventive and therapeutic strategies against this problem. We sought to determine the mechanisms whereby uterine DMs phagocytose this bacterium and tested the hypothesis that human DMs utilize class A scavenger receptors (CASRs) to internalize unopsonized C. sordellii. In vitro phagocytosis assays with human DMs incubated with pharmacological inhibitors of CASRs (fucoidan, polyinosinic acid, and dextran sulfate) revealed a role for these receptors in <em>C. sordelli</em>i phagocytosis. Soluble macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) receptor prevented <em>C. sordellii</em> internalization, suggesting that MARCO is an important CASR in DM phagocytosis of this microbe. Peritoneal macrophages from MARCO-deficient mice, but not wild-type or SR-AI/II-deficient mice, showed impaired C. sordellii phagocytosis. MARCOnull mice were more susceptible to death from C. sordellii uterine infection than wild-type mice and exhibited impaired clearance of this bacterium from the infected uterus. Thus, MARCO is an important phagocytic receptor utilized by human and mouse macrophages to clear <em>C. sordellii</em> from the infected uterus.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2010

Author dc:creator

• Thelen, Tennille D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• James L. VandenBosch, PhD, Chair
• David M. Aronoff, MD
• Glenn Walker, PhD

• decidual macrophage
• Clostridium sordellii
• scavenger receptor
• MARCO
• CASR
• Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/281

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1280