Glucose-based dialysis fluids inhibit innate defense against Staphylococcus aureus.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus peritonitis is a serious complication of Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis (CPD) and associated with a higher risk for severe and recurrent infections compared with other bacteria. We have previously shown that complement-mediated effectors essential for optimal opsonophagocytosis of S. aureus are inhibited by high glucose concentrations. Since most commonly used peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids are glucose-based, we hypothesized that glucose-based PD fluids likely inhibit complement host defenses against S. aureus. METHODS: Commercially available PD fluids were tested: glucose-based (Dianeal), Dianeal supplemented with amino acids, icodextrin-based (Extraneal) and amino acid-based (Nutrineal). Control PD fluid was generated to simulate Dianeal excluding the glucose. Three commercially available glucose concentrations were tested: Dianeal 1.5% (15 gm/1000 ml), Dianeal 2.5% (25 gm/1000 ml) and Dianeal 4.25% (42.5 gm/1000 ml). Complement effectors against S. aureus were analyzed including opsonization with C3-fragments, anaphylatoxin generation, and phagocytosis efficiency. We also evaluated clinical strains, including MRSA strains, and specific complement activation pathways. RESULTS: Glucose-based PD fluids inhibited complement opsonization of S. aureus (≥7-fold reduction) and inhibited S. aureus-induced generation of anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a (>10-fold reduction) compared to non-glucose based PD fluids. Dianeal 1.5%, 2.5% and 4.25%, all similarly inhibited C3-mediated opsonization. Glucose-based PD fluids showed a ≥4-fold reduction in opsonization of clinical strains of S.aureus, including MRSA strains. Decreased opsonization of S.aureus in the glucose-based PD fluid compared with non-glucose based fluids correlated with decreased phagocytosis by neutrophils. CONCLUSION: Complement-mediated opsonophagocytosis of S. aureus and anaphylatoxin generation were severely inhibited in glucose-based PD fluids compared with non-glucose-based PD fluids. By inhibiting complement host defenses, glucose-based PD fluids may increase the risk of and severity of S. aureus peritonitis for CPD patients using these fluids.

Hyperglycemia inhibits complement-mediated immunological control of S. aureus in a rat model of peritonitis.

Hyperglycemia from diabetes is associated with increased risk of infection from S. aureus and increased severity of illness. Previous work in our laboratory demonstrated that elevated glucose (>6 mM) dramatically inhibited S. aureus-initiated complement-mediated immune effectors. Here we report in vivo studies evaluating the extent to which a hyperglycemic environment alters complement-mediated control of S. aureus infection in a rat peritonitis model. Rats were treated with streptozocin to induce diabetes or sham-treated and then inoculated i.p. with S. aureus. Rats were euthanized and had peritoneal lavage at 2 or 24 hours after infection to evaluate early and late complement-mediated effects. Hyperglycemia decreased the influx of IgG and complement components into the peritoneum in response to S. aureus infection and decreased anaphylatoxin generation. Hyperglycemia decreased C4-fragment and C3-fragment opsonization of S. aureus recovered in peritoneal fluids, compared with euglycemic or insulin-rescued rats. Hyperglycemic rats showed decreased phagocytosis efficiency compared with euglycemic rats, which correlated inversely with bacterial survival. These results suggest that hyperglycemia inhibited humoral effector recruitment, anaphylatoxin generation, and complement-mediated opsonization of S. aureus, suggesting that hyperglycemic inhibition of complement effectors may contribute to the increased risk and severity of S. aureus infections in diabetic patients.