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Infection and Immunity, May 2003, p. 2365-2372, Vol. 71, No. 5
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.5.2365-2372.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Invasion and Killing of Human Endothelial Cells by Viridans Group Streptococci

Murray W. Stinson,1,2,3* Susan Alder,2 and Sarmishtha Kumar2

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis,1 Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences,2 Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 142143

Received 8 October 2002/ Returned for modification 18 December 2002/ Accepted 29 January 2003

Colonization of the cardiovascular endothelium by viridans group streptococci can result in infective endocarditis and possibly atherosclerosis; however, the mechanisms of pathogenesis are poorly understood. We investigated the ability of selected oral streptococci to infect monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in 50% human plasma and to produce cytotoxicity. Planktonic Streptococcus gordonii CH1 killed HUVEC over a 5-h period by peroxidogenesis (alpha-hemolysin) and by acidogenesis but not by production of protein exotoxins. HUVEC were protected fully by addition of supplemental buffers and bovine liver catalase to the culture medium. Streptococci were also found to invade HUVEC by an endocytic mechanism that was dependent on polymerization of actin microfilaments and on a functional cytoskeleton, as indicated by inhibition with cytochalasin D and nocodazole. Electron microscopy revealed streptococci attached to HUVEC surfaces via numerous fibrillar structures and bacteria in membrane-encased cytoplasmic vacuoles. Following invasion by S. gordonii CH1, HUVEC monolayers showed 63% cell lysis over 4 h, releasing 64% of the total intracellular bacteria into the culture medium; however, the bacteria did not multiply during this time. The ability to invade HUVEC was exhibited by selected strains of S. gordonii, S. sanguis, S. mutans, S. mitis, and S. oralis but only weakly by S. salivarius. Comparison of isogenic pairs of S. gordonii revealed a requirement for several surface proteins for maximum host cell invasion: glucosyltransferase, the sialic acid-binding protein Hsa, and the hydrophobicity/coaggregation proteins CshA and CshB. Deletion of genes for the antigen I/II adhesins, SspA and SspB, did not affect invasion. We hypothesize that peroxidogenesis and invasion of the cardiovascular endothelium by viridans group streptococci are integral events in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis and atherosclerosis.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214. Phone: (716) 829-2178. Fax: (716) 829-3889. E-mail: mstinson{at}acsu.buffalo.edu.

Editor: A. D. O'Brien

Infection and Immunity, May 2003, p. 2365-2372, Vol. 71, No. 5
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.5.2365-2372.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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