Summary
Infection with group B streptococcus (GBS) is the most common cause of early onset
neonatal sepsis in many countries, leading to neonatal morbidity and mortality.There
is much evidence fora direct involvement of platelets in the pathogenesis of inflammation
and sepsis. Several bacteria are known to directly interact with platelets leading
to activation and aggregation,a phenomenon also observed with GBS. Here, we demonstrate
that GBS rapidly bound to platelets; however, only strains isolated from septic patients
bound fibrinogen on their surface and induced platelet thromboxane synthesis, platelet
aggregation, and P-selectin (CD62P) expression. In contrast, GBS strains isolated
from healthy newborns or healthy pregnant women induced only shape change, but not
platelet thromboxane synthesis, platelet aggregation, or CD62P expression. All GBS
strains investigated were able to activate FcγRIIA receptor signaling pathways including
phospholipase C gamma2 (PLCγ2), as well as calcium/calmodulin-dependent myosin kinase
II (CaMKII) and phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC). In contrast, protein
kinase C (PKC) was exclusively activated by GBS strains isolated from septic patients,
and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAP kinase) was preferentially activated
by septic GBS strains. Furthermore, stress signaling kinase SEK1/MKK4 and focal adhesion
kinase (FAK) were activated by all tested GBS strains in a FcγRIIA-independent way.This
study demonstrates that septic, but not colonizing, GBS strains bind fibrinogen on
their surface, and that septic GBS strains influence platelet function not only via
the FcγRIIA receptor, but also via pathways distinct from IgG-mediated signalling.
These mechanisms lead to platelet aggregation and secretion, thereby possibly modulating
the pathophysiologic course of GBS infections.
Keywords
GroupB streptococcus - platelets - FcγRIIA - MAPK - PKC