A Staphylococcus epidermidis strain inhibits the uptake of Staphylococcus aureus derived from atopic dermatitis skin into the keratinocytes

Abstract

Background: Various bacterial species form a microbiome in the skin. In the past, dead Staphylococcus aureus derived from atopic dermatitis (AD) are taken up by keratinocytes; however, whether live S. aureus can be taken up by keratinocytes is unknown.

Objective: This study aimed to examine whether live AD strains of S. aureus internalize into the keratinocytes and how the internalization changes under conditions in which other bacterial species including S. epidermidis are present.

Methods: HaCaT cells were cultured with live S. aureus and S. epidermidis (live or heat-treated) or their culture supernatants. After coculture, the change in the amount of S. aureus in the cytoplasm of HaCaT cells was analyzed using, a high-throughput imaging system, Opera Phenix™.

Results: Live S. aureus were taken up in the cytoplasm of HaCaT cells. Coculturing live S. aureus with live S. epidermidis or the culture supernatants decreased the abundance of S. aureus in the cytoplasm. The heat-treated culture supernatants of live S. epidermidis or culture supernatants of other S. strains did not decrease the abundance of S. aureus in the cytoplasm.

Conclusion: Live S. aureus was internalized into the cytoplasm of HaCaT cells as does heat-treated S. aureus. In addition, the heat-sensitive substances secreted by coculture with S. epidermidis and keratinocytes inhibited the uptake of S. aureus by keratinocytes.

Keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Internalization; Keratinocyte; Skin microbiome; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis.