The Anti-bacterial and Anti-adherent Effects of Pentraxin-3 on Porcine Kidney Epithelial PK15 Cells Against Staphylococcus aureus Infection

Staphylococcus aureus is a common zoonotic bacterium for disease in pigs and human and causes health problem. The aim of the study is to investigate the potential of soluble pathogenic recognition protein pentraxin-3 (PTX3) on inhibiting proliferation, adhesion, and infection of S. aureus in porcine kidney epithelial PK15 cells (PK15 cells). PTX3 suppressed the growth of S. aureus and avoided it adhering to PK15 cells. PTX3 treatment also attenuated cell apoptosis induced by S. aureus in PK15 cells. The results suggest that PTX3 is able to interfere with the bacterial pathogenesis via inhibiting the growth of S. aureus and decreasing their adhesion to cells. Hence, PTX3 may replace the use of antibiotics and develop as a novel anti-microbial agent for disease prevention in piglets.