STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS PROTEINS THAT BIND TO HUMAN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

The adherence of Staphylococcus aureus to human endothelial cells is saturable in both dose- and time-dependent assays. Staphylococcal surface components which bound to endothelial cells in vitro were identified by using biotin-labeled, solubilized staphylococcal proteins. Four trypsin-sensitive components with molecular sizes of 30, 55 to 57, 70, and 85 kDa were recognized. These proteins did not label with the glycan detection system. When staphylococci were harvested during the exponential phase of growth, staphylococcal adherence to endothelial cells was significantly increased and increased expression of the S. aureus binding proteins was observed. Preincubation of endothelial cells with protein A did not reduce S. aureus adherence in an in vitro infection assay. Four S. aureus surface components whose expression is growth phase dependent adhere to human endothelial cells in vitro.