Open Access
Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus induces apoptosis in mouse osteoblasts
Author(s) -
Tucker Karen A,
Reilly Sheila S,
Leslie Christopher S,
Hudson Michael C
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09096.x
Subject(s) - dna laddering , apoptosis , staphylococcus aureus , osteoblast , intracellular , microbiology and biotechnology , extracellular , programmed cell death , cell culture , biology , chemistry , dna fragmentation , bacteria , biochemistry , in vitro , genetics
Abstract Staphylococcus aureus invades osteoblasts and is the primary cause of osteomyelitis. This study examined the ability of S. aureus to induce apoptosis in a mouse osteoblast cell line. The presence of intracellular S. aureus was demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy. Light microscopy was utilized to examine morphological changes in the osteoblasts following killing of extracellular bacteria. Cell rounding was observed, and dark centers due to condensation of chromatin were noted in cells in infected osteoblast cultures. DNA was isolated from infected osteoblast cultures, and electrophoresis revealed the laddering effect characteristic of cells undergoing apoptosis. Additionally, an in situ cell death detection assay was utilized to label apoptosis‐induced DNA strand breaks. Apoptotic nuclei were present, providing further evidence that S. aureus induces apoptosis in osteoblasts.