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Bin Zhang, Michelle Centra, Guan Liang Cao, Robert M. Taylor, Roman E. Ratych, Gerald M. Rosen, Penicillin G—Induced Microbicidal Activity of Endothelial Cells Cultured on Gelfoam Blocks, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 174, Issue 5, November 1996, Pages 1001–1009, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/174.5.1001
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Abstract
A body of evidence has surfaced documenting the ability of endothelial cells cultured on mono-layers to phagocytose but not kill bacteria. Several years ago, a new three-dimensional endothelial cell culturing model was developed, which simulated the morphology of the endothelium in small vessels and capillaries. Given that endothelial cellsmay be derived from the same pluripotent stem cells as macrophages, the question of whether endothelial cells might phagocytose and kill bacteria was explored. Endothelial cells grown on Gelfoam blocks exhibited bactericidal activity towards Staphylococcus aureus, reaching maximal killing of >90% after 2 h. Evidence documents the involvementof bacterial adherence to the plasma membrane of the endothelial cell. This is followed by phagocytosis of S. aureus, leading to intracellular killing. Penicillin G, included in the endothelial cell growth medium, was found to be a critical factor in the bactericidal activity demonstrated by Gelfoam blocks laden with endothelial cells.