Staphylococcus Aureus Increases The Production Of NETs Significantly In Neutrophils In Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective: To explore the impact of staphylococcus aureus on the production of neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)in systemic lupus erythematosus.Methods:42 SLE patients and 18 healthy controls were recruited including 22 stable patients and 20 active patients.Neutrophils were separated from patients and donors and cultivated with staphylococcus aureus in vitro,and then the main components of NETs in culture supernatant were detected using DNA kit and LL-37 ELISA kit.In addition,the relationship between NETs and clinic or laboratory data were analyzed.Results:It was statistically significant of free DNA(f DNA)among 3 groups without stimulation by staphylococcus aureus.The stable SLE were higher than active SLE and healthy controls(P 0.008,0.027 respectively),but there was no significant difference between active SLE and healthy controls(P > 0.05);there was no statistical significance of LL-37 among 3 groups(P > 0.05).On the other hand,there was significant difference in the amount of free DNA(f DNA)in supernatant of neutrophils stimulated by staphylococcus aureus in stable,active SLE patients and healthy controls.Active and stable SLE were both higher than healthy controls(P < 0.05),while no significant difference was found between active and stable SLE groups(P > 0.05).No statistical significance existed in LL-37 among 3 groups.There were statistically significant in the differences of both f DNA and LL-37 before and after stimulation by staphylococcus aureus in vitro(f DNA P 0.000,0.000,0.001 respectively,LL-37 P 0.000).The difference of f DNA in active SLE was higher than stable SLE and healthy controls,while there was no significant difference between stable SLE and healthy controls;like previous result,there was no statistical significance of the difference of LL-37 among 3 groups(P > 0.05).Conclusion:The production/releasing of NETs increase significantly in SLE after the stimulation of staphylococcus aureus.The response is strongest in active SLE patients indicate potential pathogenic role of staphylococcus aureus.