CD11a/CD18 and CD11b/18 modulation by lipoteichoic acid, N-acetyl-muramyl-alpha-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, muramic acid and protein A from Staphylococcus aureus.

This study investigates the effect of some components of the Staphylococcus aureus cell wall [lipoteichoic acid (LTA), N-acetyl-muramyl-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MD), muramic acid (MA) and protein A (PA)] in modulating expression of cell-surface adhesion molecules CD11a/CD18, CD11b/C18 on monocytes qualitatively and quantitatively. Monocytes incubated with bacterial components presented different CD11b/CD18 expressions which were dose-dependent in contrast to controls. The results obtained demonstrated that lymphocytes incubated with bacterial components also increased the expression of CD11a/CD18. The modifications in activation of CD11a/CD18 and CD11b/CD18 expression are probably correlated with modifications of membrane fluidity measured as polarisation fluorescence (P).