In Vitro infection of human dura-mater fibroblasts with Staphylococcus aureus: colonization and reactive production of IL-1beta

Objective: Post-operative meningitis, caused mainly by Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative rods, is a life-threatening complication after neurosurgery, and its pathogenesis is far from clear. The purpose of this work was to study the experimental infection of human dura-mater fibroblasts and whole human dura by S. aureus. Methods: In vitro cultures of human dura-mater fibroblasts and organotypic cultures of small pieces of human dura mater were inoculated with a human-derived S. aureus strain. The pattern of bacterial infection as well as cytokines secretion by the infected fibroblasts was studied. Results: Our results suggest that colonisation of human dura-mater fibroblasts in culture and whole duramater tissue by S. aureus includes bacterial growth on the cell surface, fibroblast intracellular invasion by bacteria and a significant synthesis of interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) by the infected cells. Conclusion: This is the first report of human dura-mater fibroblast infection by S. aureus. Hopefully, these results can lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of meningitis caused by this bacterial species and to a more rational therapeutic approach.