Erschienen in:
01.09.2011 | Short Communication
Neutralization of Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane vesicles
verfasst von:
András Vida, Annet Troelstra, Péter Antal-Szalmás, Toon J. P. van Bommel, André F. M. Verheul, Jan Verhoef, Kok P. M. van Kessel, Jos A. G. van Strijp
Erschienen in:
Inflammation Research
|
Ausgabe 9/2011
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Abstract
Introduction
We aimed to determine the neutralization of Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane vesicles (blebs) by humoral and cellular elements of whole blood.
Methods
The interaction of FITC-labeled blebs with monocytes was studied by spectrofluorometry. Blebs are able to induce an oxidative burst in neutrophils, and we evaluated the inhibitory effect of plasma on this process.
Results
Human plasma reduced the priming activity of blebs containing 1–3 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by 50–60% and bactericidal permeability increasing protein (BPI) reduced priming to background levels. A complete neutralization of LPS and blebs by plasma and BPI was measured using the limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. Furthermore, only 3% of blebs were cell-associated, while the remainder were in the supernatant.
Conclusions
Plasma and BPI are able to neutralize blebs, with phagocytosis playing only a minor role. As such, we conclude that blebs do not behave like particles but more like free LPS.