Open AccessProcoagulant Activity of Blood and Microvesicles Is Disturbed by Pneumococcal Pneumolysin, Which Interacts with Coagulation Factors
Author(s) -
Oehmcke-Hecht Sonja,
Maletzki Claudia,
Surabhi Surabhi,
Siemens Nikolai,
Khaimov Valeria,
John Lisa Marie,
Peter Sina Mariella,
Hammerschmidt Sven,
Kreikemeyer Bernd
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of innate immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.078
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1662-8128
pISSN - 1662-811X
DOI - 10.1159/000525479
Subject(s) - research article
The coagulation and contact systems are parts of the innate immune system as they prevent bleeding and dissemination of pathogens and also contribute to microbial killing by inflammatory reactions and the release of antimicrobial peptides. Here, we investigated the influence of Streptococcus pneumoniae on the coagulation and contact system. S. pneumoniae (pneumococci), but no other investigated streptococcal species, impairs coagulation of blood by autolysis and release of pneumolysin. Defective blood coagulation results from the lysis of tissue factor-producing mononuclear cells and their procoagulant microvesicles, which are the main trigger for blood coagulation during sepsis. In addition, pneumolysin binds coagulation and contact system factors, but this does not result in activation. Thus, pneumococci modulate activation of the coagulation system by releasing pneumolysin, which could potentiate lung injury during pneumonia.