Title: Acinetobacter quorum sensing contributes to inflammation-induced inhibition of orthopaedic implant osseointegration

Authors: H Choe, BS Hausman, KM Hujer, O Akkus, PN Rather, Z Lee, RA Bonomo, EM Greenfield

Address: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Building, Room 371, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

E-mail: egreenf at iu.edu

Abstract: Implant infection impairs osseointegration of orthopaedic implants by inducing inflammation. Acinetobacter spp. are increasingly prevalent multi-drug resistant bacteria that can cause osteomyelitis. Acinetobacter spp. can also cause inflammation and thereby inhibit osseointegration in mice. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of quorum sensing in this context. Therefore, wild-type bacteria were compared with an isogenic abaI mutant defective in quorum sensing in a murine osseointegration model. The abaI quorum- sensing mutant affected significantly less osseointegration and interleukin (IL) 1β levels, without detectably altering other pro-inflammatory cytokines. Wild-type bacteria had fewer effects on IL1 receptor (IL1R)−/− mice. These results indicated that quorum sensing in Acinetobacter spp. contributed to IL1β induction and the resultant inhibition of osseointegration in mice. Moreover, targeting the Gram-negative acyl-homoserine lactone quorum sensing may be particularly effective for patients with Acinetobacter spp. infections.

Keywords: Artificial ligament, polyethylene terephthalate, profiled filaments, calcium phosphate, ligamentisation, bone formation.

Publication date: June 9th 2022

Article download: Pages 267-276 (PDF file)
DOI: 10.22203/eCM.v043a18