LDL acts as an opsonin enhancing the phagocytosis of group A Streptococcus by monocyte and whole human blood.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) binds to group A Streptococcus (GAS) through Sc11 protein, and scavenger receptor CD36 of monocyte mediates the endocytosis of native or modified LDL. Therefore, we hypothesized that LDL might be an opsonin enhancing the phagocytosis of LDL-bound GAS by monocyte. The results showed that LDL could significantly promote U937 cell to phagocytose M28 (ATCC BAA1064) and M41 (ATCC 12373, AM41)-type GAS, and the phagocytosis rates were significantly increased, compared with LDL-free group. LDL, however, did not enhance the phagocytosis of M41 (CMCC 32198, CM41) or M6 (ATCC BAA946)-type GAS since these two strains did not bind to LDL. CD36 was the major scavenger receptor mediating the uptake of LDL-bound GAS by monocyte U937 cells since anti-CD36 antibody abolished the phagocytosis of LDL-opsonized GAS but anti-CD4 antibody did not. Most of AM41-type GAS cells were killed in human blood, whereas only a few CM41-type cells were phagocytosed. Moreover, recombinant Scl1 (rScl1) derived from M41-type GAS could significantly decrease the opsonophagocytosis of AM41 but not CM41-type GAS because the rScl1 competitively blocked the binding of AM41-type GAS to LDL. Therefore, our findings suggest that LDL may be an opsonin to enhance CD36-dependent opsonic phagocytosis of GAS by monocyte.

High-density lipoprotein acts as an opsonin to enhance phagocytosis of group A streptococcus by U937 cells.

We have previously demonstrated that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) can specifically bind to streptococcal collagen-like protein 1 (Scl1) of M41-type group A Streptococcus (GAS). However, the pathological or physiological significance of Scl1-HDL interaction is unknown. Here, the hypothesis that HDL acts as an opsonin to enhance phagocytosis of HDL-bound GAS by monocytes given that some scavenger receptors can mediate the endocytosis of HDL was tested by using FITC-labeled bacteria, human U937 monocytes and HDL for phagocytic assays. HDL (10 µg/mL) was found to significantly enhance internalization of M41-type (ATCC 12373) GAS by U937 cells after 60 min incubation, compared with an HDL-free group. The internalized GAS were dead after 60 min incubation with U937 cells regardless of presence and absence of HDL. Although very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) could specifically bind to ATCC 12373 strain, it did not promote phagocytosis of GAS. Additionally, LDL, HDL and VLDL did not enhance phagocytosis of CMCC 32198 strain because this strain did not bind to these lipoproteins. A physiological concentration of HDL (1000 µg/mL) had a similar effect. Anti-CD36 antibody completely abolished opsonic phagocytosis whereas anti-CD4 antibody did not, indicating that CD36 is the major scavenger receptor mediating the uptake of HDL-opsonized GAS by U937 cells. Furthermore, because rScl1 competitively blocked the interaction of ATCC 12373 strain with HDL recombinant Scl1 (rScl1) derived from M41-type GAS, it significantly decreased opsonophagocytosis of ATCC 12373 strain but not of CMCC 32198 strain. Therefore, our findings suggest that HDL may be an opsonin that enhances CD36-dependent opsonophagocytosis of GAS by U937 cells.