2021 Volume 8 Issue 4 Pages 175-182
Glycation is a non-enzymatic reaction that occurs under physiological conditions which contributes to the pathogenesis aging and related diseases. Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent cause of infection, whose overabundance on the skin is linked to conditions involving elevated glycative stress such as atopic dermatitis and diabetes mellitus. The influence of glycative stress on host-pathogen interactions is still poorly understood. Therefore, we conducted a small-scale observational study of the human skin, alongside in vitro experiments to determine the effects on S. aureus of exposure to advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). In contrast to that of young adults, the elderly skin was characterized by significantly increased fluorescent AGE content, a 10-fold increase in S. aureus abundance, and a 20% reduction in coagulase-negative Staphylococcus carriage. Glycated keratin triggered the formation of large multicellular S. aureus aggregates in vitro. Under static conditions, glycated keratin promoted biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner (ED50 = 0.64 mg/mL). AGE accumulation in the skin may play a crucial role in dysbiosis and recurring S. aureus infection. Preventative treatments to reduce glycative stress could reduce the risk of disease and avoid overuse of antibiotics.
