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Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen
Published on: March 21, 2011
Mechanisms of Staphylococcus aureus induced apoptosis of human endothelial cells
M Esen1, B Schreiner, V Jendrossek
1Department of Physiology, University of Tübingen, Gmelinstrasse 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Abstract:
Staphylococcus aureus plays an important role in sepsis, pneumonia and wound infections. Here, we demonstrate that infection with several S. aureus strains results in apoptosis of human endothelial cells. S. aureus induced an activation of cellular caspases, the acid sphingomyelinase, a release of cytochrome c and a stimulation of Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). The significance of these findings is indicated by a prevention of S. aureus triggered apoptosis of human cells deficient for ASM or upon genetic or pharmacological inhibition of JNK or caspases, respectively.
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