Publication

Proteoglycofili are glycosaminoglycan-containing fibrillar components released by neutrophils to neutralize bacteria

2025

Abstract

Here, we uncover that neutrophils release a fibrillar complex, named proteoglycofili (PGF), under hypoxic conditions or upon bacterial infection, using Shigella as a model. PGF are preferentially released by neutrophils over neutrophil extracellular traps upon bacterial infection. PGF are released by living neutrophils, do not contain DNA, are mainly composed of granule proteins, and contain cytokines. We reveal that the fibrillar structure of PGF is sustained by two glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin sulfate, released by neutrophils. We demonstrate that PGF are potent antimicrobials, which degrade virulence factors of Shigella and block its growth, similar to E. coli or Salmonella. GAGs are essential for PGF antimicrobial activity both in vitro and in vivo. Beyond bacterial infections, and reported in a mouse model of colon cancer, our results strongly suggest that GAGs may be released by neutrophils in a broad range of inflammatory diseases.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/d7db7575-4006-464e-bedd-895d1f2273b3

About this result

This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.

Graph Chat

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.

2025

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/d7db7575-4006-464e-bedd-895d1f2273b3

About this result

Related concepts (32)

Neutrophil

Neutrophils (also known as neutrocytes, heterophils or polymorphonuclear leukocytes) are a type of white blood cell. More specifically, they form the most abundant type of granulocytes and make up 40% to 70% of all white blood cells in humans. They form an essential part of the innate immune system, with their functions varying in different animals. They are formed from stem cells in the bone marrow and differentiated into subpopulations of neutrophil-killers and neutrophil-cagers.

Glycosaminoglycan

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) or mucopolysaccharides are long, linear polysaccharides consisting of repeating disaccharide units (i.e. two-sugar units). The repeating two-sugar unit consists of a uronic sugar and an amino sugar, except in the case of the sulfated glycosaminoglycan keratan, where, in place of the uronic sugar there is a galactose unit. GAGs are found in vertebrates, invertebrates and bacteria. Because GAGs are highly polar molecules and attract water; the body uses them as lubricants or shock absorbers.

Pathogenic bacteria

Pathogenic bacteria are bacteria that can cause disease. This article focuses on the bacteria that are pathogenic to humans. Most species of bacteria are harmless and are often beneficial but others can cause infectious diseases. The number of these pathogenic species in humans is estimated to be fewer than a hundred. By contrast, several thousand species are part of the gut flora present in the digestive tract.

Related publications (7)

Proteoglycofili are glycosaminoglycan-containing fibrillar components released by neutrophils to neutralize bacteria

Chat with Graph Search

Addendum: Neural anticipation of virtual infection triggers an immune response

Assessment of pulmonary function in a mouse model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia by unrestrained whole body plethysmography and the forced oscillation technique

Synthetic α-synuclein fibrils replicate in mice causing MSA-like pathology