Visualization of Streptococcus pneumoniae within Cardiac Microlesions and Subsequent Cardiac Remodeling

Summary

Streptococcus pneumoniae forms discrete non-purulent microscopic lesions in the heart. Outlined is the protocol for a murine model of cardiac microlesion formation. Instruction is provided on microlesion visualization using microscopy, discrimination between early and late microlesions, and methods to detect cardiac remodeling in hearts of convalescent animals.

Abstract

During bacteremia Streptococcus pneumoniae can translocate across the vascular endothelium into the myocardium and form discrete bacteria-filled microscopic lesions (microlesions) that are remarkable due to the absence of infiltrating immune cells. Due to their release of cardiotoxic products, S. pneumoniae within microlesions are thought to contribute to the heart failure that is frequently observed during fulminate invasive pneumococcal disease in adults. Herein is demonstrated a protocol for experimental mouse infection that leads to reproducible cardiac microlesion formation within 30 hr. Instruction is provided on microlesion identification in hematoxylin & eosin stained heart sections and the morphological distinctions between early and late microlesions are highlighted. Instruction is provided on a protocol for verification of S. pneumoniae within microlesions using antibodies against pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide and immunofluorescent microscopy. Last, a protocol for antibiotic intervention that rescues infected mice and for the detection and assessment of scar formation in the hearts of convalescent mice is provided. Together, these protocols will facilitate the investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying pneumococcal cardiac invasion, cardiomyocyte death, cardiac remodeling as a result of exposure to S. pneumoniae, and the immune response to the pneumococci in the heart.

Introduction

Hospitalization of adults for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) carries a documented risk for adverse cardiac events that contributes to mortality^1-4. In a recent study by Corrales-Medina et al. cardiac complications were found to be associated with and/or responsible for 27% of pneumonia-associated deaths³. Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus), the most common cause of CAP and sepsis⁵, has been directly associated with adverse cardiac events in as many as 19% of admitted adult patients⁶. Adverse cardiac events associated with pneumonia include new or worsened congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, ....

Protocol

NOTE: All mouse experiments were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (protocol #13032-34-01C). Animal care and experimental protocols adhered to Public Law 89-544 (Animal Welfare Act) and its amendments, Public Health Services guidelines, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services).

1. Infection

1. Obtain BALB/c mice of both sexes between the ages of 10-12 weeks of age.
   NOTE: S. pneumoniae serotype 4 strain TIGR4 is a virulent clinical isolate that has be....

Results

Visualization of Microlesions by H&E

Cardiac microlesions were observed in the ventricles of H&E stained cardiac sections from mice with IPD following their i.p. challenge with TIGR4. Figure 1 demonstrates the increase in size of these lesions between 24 and 30 hr post-infection (hpi), with greater number of hematoxylin-stained (i.e., purple-blue) pneumococci visible within the lesion. Microlesions were characterized by a vacuole-like morphology, dens.......

Discussion

In this report, a highly reproducible method to induce S. pneumoniae-mediated cardiac microlesions in mice during IPD and the techniques for their visualization is demonstrated. Mice are infected with a dose of bacteria that surpasses the immune system’s threshold for clearance, leading to high-grade bacteremia, similar to that which occurs during human sepsis, and leads to eventual bacterial translocation into the myocardium. For yet unknown reasons, S. pneumoniae in the heart is able to replicat.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Todd-Hewitt broth	Neogen	7161A
O.C.T Compound	Tissue-Tek (Sakura Finetek)	4583
Triton X-100	Fisher Scientific (Acros)	9002-93-1
Normal Goat Serum	Abcam	ab7481
anti-serotype 4 pneumococcus antiserum	Statens Serum Institut	16747
goat anti-rabbit FITC conjugated antibody	Jackson ImmunoResearch	111-096-144
DAPI	Invitrogen	D1306
Fluorsave	Millipore	345789
Permount	Fisher Scientific	S70104
Ampicillin	Sigma	A9393
phosphomolybdic acid 0.2%	Electron Microscopy Sciences	26357-01
0.1% Sirius Red in picric acid	Electron Microscopy Sciences	26357-02
0.01 N hydrochloric acid	Electron Microscopy Sciences	26357-03
Tissue Tack Microscope Slides	Polysciences, Inc	24216
Paralube Vet Ointment	Dechra	12920060
Hematoxylin and Eosin Staining Kit	unspeciified		Standard