Pneumolysin mediates heterotypic aggregation of neutrophils and platelets in vitro

Platelets orchestrate the inflammatory activities of neutrophils, possibly contributing to pulmonary and myocardial damage during severe pneumococcal infection. This study tested the hypothesis that the pneumococcal toxin, pneumolysin (Ply), activates production of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and thromboxane A₂ (TxA₂) by neutrophils, these bioactive lipids being potential mediators of neutrophil:platelet (NP) networking.

The effects of recombinant Ply (10-80 ng mL^-1) on the production of PAF and TxA₂ by isolated neutrophils were measured using ELISA procedures, and NP aggregation by flow cytometry.

Exposure of neutrophils to Ply induced production of PAF and, to a lesser extent, TxA₂, achieving statistical significance at ≥20 ng mL^-1 of the toxin. In the case of NP interactions, Ply promoted heterotypic aggregation which was dependent on upregulation of P-selectin (CD62P) and activation of protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1), attaining statistical significance at ≥10 ng mL^-1 of the toxin, but did not involve either PAF or TxA₂.

Ply induces synthesis of PAF and TxA_2, by human neutrophils, neither of which appears to contribute to the formation of NP heterotypic aggregates in vitro, a process which is seemingly dependent on CD62P and PAR1. These pro-inflammatory activities of Ply may contribute to the pathogenesis of pulmonary and myocardial injury during severe pneumococcal infection.