Sublethal infection with Salmonella Enteritidis by the natural route induces intestinal and joint inflammation in mice

• Published in: Microbes and infection Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 74 - 82
• Main Authors: Noto Llana, Mariángeles, Sarnacki, Sebastián H., Giacomodonato, Mónica N., Caccuri, Roberto L., Blanco, Guillermo A., Cerquetti, M. Cristina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier SAS 2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal model; Animals; Arthritis, Reactive - immunology; Arthritis, Reactive - microbiology; Arthritis, Reactive - physiopathology; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the digestive system and abdomen; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Disease Models, Animal; Enteritis; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Intestines - immunology; Intestines - microbiology; Intestines - physiopathology; Joint inflammation; Knee Joint - immunology; Knee Joint - microbiology; Knee Joint - physiopathology; Lymph Nodes - immunology; Medical sciences; Mice; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Reactive arthritis; Salmonella Enteritidis; Salmonella enteritidis - pathogenicity; Salmonella Infections - microbiology; Salmonella Infections - physiopathology; Synovitis; Synovitis - immunology; Synovitis - microbiology; Synovitis - physiopathology; Virulence; Animal model; Synovitis; Enteritis; Joint inflammation; Salmonella Enteritidis; Reactive arthritis; Salmonella enteritidis; Digestive system; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Rodentia; Gut; Inflammatory joint disease; Inflammation; Infection; Spondylarthropathy; Vertebrata; Chronic; Mammalia; Mouse; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Salmonellosis; Enterobacteriaceae
• ISSN: 1286-4579; 1769-714X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2008.10.010

Reactive arthritis (ReA) is a sterile inflammation triggered by a distal mucosal infection, which suggests a contribution from bacterial products. Investigation on the pathogenesis of ReA is difficult because of the limited studies that can be performed in humans; therefore the availability of animal models is crucial. We hereby describe a murine model for studying the early stages of
Salmonella-induced ReA. BALB/c mice infected by the natural route with a sublethal dose of
S. Enteritidis showed long lasting gut inflammation, synovitis in the knee joint and a significant increase of CD4+ lymphocytes in the draining popliteal lymph nodes.
S. Enteritidis infection induced histological changes in intact knees and exacerbated inflammation in previously damaged joints. Experiments performed with
S. Enteritidis Δ
invG mutant suggest that the proinflammatory signalling mediated by
Salmonella TTSS-1 in the gut is required for the induction of joint sequelae. Since this model is highly reproducible and easy to perform, it provides great potential for investigating both host and bacterial contributions to the early stages of ReA.