VirulentLeptospira interrogansInduce Cytotoxic Effects in Human Plateletsin vitroThrough Direct Interactions

Author(s)

Vieira, Monica Larucci ^{[1, 2]} ; Nascimento, Ana Lucia T. O. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Butantan Inst, Lab Desenvolvimento Vacinas, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ Minas Gerais UFMG, Inst Biol Sci, Dept Microbiol, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY; v. 11, SEP 24 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a prevalent zoonotic disease, caused by bacteria of the genusLeptospira. Leptospirosis frequently leads to hemostatic disturbances, and the severe cases are marked by hemorrhages and low platelet number in circulation, which is associated with the patients' poor outcomes. Nevertheless,Leptospira-platelet interactions remain poorly explored. In this study, we performed a series ofin vitroexperiments evaluating whether leptospires induce human platelet aggregation, activation, and morphological changes. Platelets were incubated with virulentL. interrogansand the platelet outcomes were assessed by aggregometry, flow cytometry, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Our results show that leptospires alone do not induce platelet aggregation and activation, and induce platelet cytotoxic effects instead, by clearly inducing platelet disruption and detachment. We show for the first time that virulent leptospires do interact directly with platelets, an event that could trigger pathophysiological effects during the infection. This study might serve as a basis for the development of novel treatments for the disease. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50981-0 - Search for surface proteins among the genome sequences of Leptospira interrogans: functional and immunological characterization to understanding mechanisms involved in the bacterial pathogenesis
• Grantee: Ana Lucia Tabet Oller do Nascimento
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/07054-2 - Platelets at the interface of immunity, inflammation and hemostasis modulation in leptospirosis
• Grantee: Mônica Larucci Vieira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers