Neutrophil elastase limits spread of Staphylococcus aureus during skin infection

Abstract

Neutrophil elastase (NE), the main protease of neutrophils, is involved in many of their functions, including prevention of infections. Despite its general importance, NE was previously thought to play no role in infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, one of the leading bacterial pathogens. Here, using transgenic mice deficient in NE and a mouse model of localized skin infection, we demonstrate that NE is in fact needed for the containment of S. aureus and prevention of the systemic spread of this bacterium. This is apparently due to the role of NE in the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps.