Exploring the Role of Staphylococcus aureus in Inflammatory Diseases

Toxins (Basel). 2022 Jul 6;14(7):464. doi: 10.3390/toxins14070464.

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a very common Gram-positive bacterium, and S. aureus infections play an extremely important role in a variety of diseases. This paper describes the types of virulence factors involved, the inflammatory cells activated, the process of host cell death, and the associated diseases caused by S. aureus. S. aureus can secrete a variety of enterotoxins and other toxins to trigger inflammatory responses and activate inflammatory cells, such as keratinocytes, helper T cells, innate lymphoid cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, mast cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. Activated inflammatory cells can express various cytokines and induce an inflammatory response. S. aureus can also induce host cell death through pyroptosis, apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, etc. This article discusses S. aureus and MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus) in atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, pulmonary cystic fibrosis, allergic asthma, food poisoning, sarcoidosis, multiple sclerosis, and osteomyelitis. Summarizing the pathogenic mechanism of Staphylococcus aureus provides a basis for the targeted treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; apoptosis; autophagy; inflammatory cells; necroptosis; pyroptosis; toxin.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Inflammation* / microbiology
  • Lymphocytes
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
  • Staphylococcal Infections* / immunology
  • Staphylococcal Infections* / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus*

Grants and funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China: 82171764, 81871266, 81301948; Guangzhou science and technology project: 202102010104; the Natural Science Foundation from Guangdong Science and Technology Department: 2021A1515012551.