Bacterial DNA and endothelial damage in haemodialysis patients

An increased percentage of CD14+CD16+ activated monocytes have been reported in peripheral blood from haemodialysis patients. The aim of this study is to investigate if a mild stimulus such as bacterial DNA (CpG-ODNs) contamination may induce an inflammatory response in CD14+CD16+ monocytes from haemodialysis patients and to value the biological consequences of this inflammatory response on endothelial cell damage.

Circulating mononuclear cells from 20 haemodialysis patients and 15 healthy subjects were studied. CD14+CD16+ and the toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9) expression were assessed by flow cytometry. Cell culture inserts were used to evaluate the effect of CD14+CD16+ and CpG-ODNs on endothelial cell apoptosis (measured by Tunnel). Intracellular cytokines were measured by Cytometric methods. NF-kappaB, p38 MAPK, c-Jun PI3K and MEK1/2 activity were modified by specific peptides.

At baseline, CD14+CD16+ have an increased expression of cytoquines and TLR-9. CpG-ODNs caused the production and release of cytoquines in CD14+CD16+, but not in CD14++ monocytes. This inflammatory response was mediated by intracellular signalling dependent on NF-kappaB, p38 MARK or c-Jun PI3K but not by MEK1/2 activation. The results of the present study also demonstrate that the inflammatory response induced by the stimulation of CD14+CD16+ by CpG DNA resulted in endothelial cell apoptosis.

The results of the present study demonstrate that in haemodialysis patients there is a subpopulation of pre-activated monocytes that can be stimulated by contaminant bacterial DNA. These activated cells produce and release inflammatory factors that may cause endothelial injury.