Scientific article
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English

Decoding the complexity of delayed wound healing following Enterococcus faecalis infection

Published ineLife, vol. 13, RP95113
Publication date2024-05-20
First online date2024-05-20
Abstract

Wound infections are highly prevalent and can lead to delayed or failed healing, causing significant morbidity and adverse economic impacts. These infections occur in various contexts, including diabetic foot ulcers, burns, and surgical sites. Enterococcus faecalis is often found in persistent non-healing wounds, but its contribution to chronic wounds remains understudied. To address this, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on infected wounds in comparison to uninfected wounds in a mouse model. Examining over 23,000 cells, we created a comprehensive single-cell atlas that captures the cellular and transcriptomic landscape of these wounds. Our analysis revealed unique transcriptional and metabolic alterations in infected wounds, elucidating the distinct molecular changes associated with bacterial infection compared to the normal wound healing process. We identified dysregulated keratinocyte and fibroblast transcriptomes in response to infection, jointly contributing to an anti-inflammatory environment. Notably, E. faecalis infection prompted a premature, incomplete epithelial-mesenchymal transition in keratinocytes. Additionally, E. faecalis infection modulated M2-like macrophage polarization by inhibiting pro-inflammatory resolution in vitro, in vivo, and in our scRNA-seq atlas. Furthermore, we discovered macrophage crosstalk with neutrophils, which regulates chemokine signaling pathways, while promoting anti-inflammatory interactions with endothelial cells. Overall, our findings offer new insights into the immunosuppressive role of E. faecalis in wound infections.

Keywords
  • E. faecalis
  • Single-cell RNA sequencing
  • Chronic wound infection
  • Host-pathogen interaction
  • Immune evasion
  • Immunomodulation
  • Infectious disease
  • Microbiology
  • Mouse
  • Enterococcus faecalis / physiology
  • Enterococcus faecalis / genetics
  • Animals
  • Wound Healing
  • Mice
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Keratinocytes / microbiology
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism
  • Macrophages / microbiology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Wound Infection / microbiology
  • Transcriptome
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Male
  • Fibroblasts / microbiology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
Funding
  • National Medical Research Council [MOH-000566]
  • National Medical Research Council [MOH-000645]
  • Ministry of Education - Singapore [MOE2019-T2-2-089]
Citation (ISO format)
CELIK, Cenk et al. Decoding the complexity of delayed wound healing following Enterococcus faecalis infection. In: eLife, 2024, vol. 13, p. RP95113. doi: 10.7554/eLife.95113
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
Secondary files (3)
Appendix
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Identifiers
Additional URL for this publicationhttps://elifesciences.org/articles/95113
Journal ISSN2050-084X
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