Pericytes modulate endothelial inflammatory response during bacterial infection

作者：Thaynara Parente de Carvalho, Frank Toledo, Diego F. A. Bautista, Monique F. Silva, Jefferson Bruno Soares Oliveira, Pâmela A. Lima, Fabíola Barroso Costa, Noelly Queiroz Ribeiro, Jee‐Yon Lee, Alexander Birbrair, Tatiane A. Paíxão, Renée M. Tsolis, Renato L. Santos · 发表于：mBio · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1128/mbio.03252-23 · 被引用次数：12 · 研究领域：Barrier Structure and Function Studies、Connexins and lens biology、Neutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative Mechanisms

ABSTRACT Pericytes are located around blood vessels, in close contact with endothelial cells. We discovered that pericytes dampen pro-inflammatory endothelial cell responses. Endothelial cells co-cultured with pericytes had markedly reduced expression of adhesion molecules (PECAM-1 and ICAM-1) and proinflammatory cytokines (CCL-2 and IL-6) in response to bacterial stimuli ( Brucella ovis , Listeria monocytogenes , or Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide). Pericyte-depleted mice intraperitoneally inoculated with either B. ovis , a stealthy pathogen that does not trigger detectable inflammation, or Listeria monocytogenes , developed peritonitis. Further, during Citrobacter rodentium infection, pericyte-depleted mice developed severe intestinal inflammation, which was not evident in control mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of pericytes required connexin 43, as either chemical inhibition or silencing of connexin 43 abrogated pericyte-mediated suppression of endothelial inflammatory responses. Our results define a mechanism by which pericytes modulate inflammation during infection, which shifts our understanding of pericyte biology: from a structural cell to a pro-active player in modulating inflammation. IMPORTANCE A previously unknown mechanism by which pericytes modulate inflammation was discovered. The absence of pericytes or blocking interaction between pericytes and endothelium through connexin 43 results in stronger inflammation, which shifts our understanding of pericyte ...