Bacterial membrane vesicles shape Staphylococcus aureus skin colonization and induction of innate immune responses

Staphylococcus aureus colonization is abundant on the skin of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients where it contributes to skin inflammation. S. aureus produces virulence factors that distinguish it from commensal skin bacteria such as S. epidermidis and S. lugdunensis. However, it has remained unclear, which of these virulence factors have the strongest impact on AD. Membrane vesicles (MVs) are released by pathogenic bacteria and might play an essential role in the long-distance delivery of bacterial effectors such as virulence factors. We show that MVs are also released by skin commensals in a similar quantity and membrane lipid amount as those from pathogenic S. aureus. Interestingly, MVs from skin commensals can protect against S. aureus skin colonization by conditioning human skin for enhanced defence. In contrast, MVs released by S. aureus are able to induce CXCL8 and TNF-alpha in primary human keratinocytes, recruit neutrophils and induce neutrophil extracellular traps, which enhance S. aureus skin colonization. CXCL8 induction is TLR2- and NFkB-dependent and the induction level correlates with the membrane lipid and protein A content of the MVs. Interestingly, MVs of S. aureus strains from the lesional skin of AD patients show an enhanced membrane lipid and protein A content compared to the strains from the non-lesional sites and have an enhanced proinflammatory potential. Our data underline the complex interplay in host- and bacterial derived factors in S. aureus skin colonization and the important role of bacterial derived MVs and their membrane lipid and protein A content in skin inflammatory disorders.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that skin commensals also release membrane vesicles (MVs) in similar quantity and lipid content as pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus, providing protection against skin colonization by S. aureus. On the contrary, MVs released by S. aureus induce proinflammatory responses in human keratinocytes, recruit neutrophils, and enhance skin colonization. The level of induction is dependent on TLR2 and NFkB signaling pathways and correlates with the membrane lipid and protein A content of the MVs.