Immune escape of Staphylococcus aureus mediated by osteocyte lacuna-canalicular network leads to persistent and uncured bone infection

Bone infections, specifically chronic osteomyelitis, are characterized by recurrent episodes. They are considered intractable clinical diseases as they require protracted and difficult-to-cure courses. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is the most common pathogen responsible for bone infections and...

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Main Authors: Zhigang Rong, Xiaozhen Chen, Leilei Qin, Xiaohua Wang, Fei Luo, Quanming Zou, Hao Zeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1592086/full
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author Zhigang Rong
Zhigang Rong
Xiaozhen Chen
Leilei Qin
Xiaohua Wang
Fei Luo
Quanming Zou
Hao Zeng
author_facet Zhigang Rong
Zhigang Rong
Xiaozhen Chen
Leilei Qin
Xiaohua Wang
Fei Luo
Quanming Zou
Hao Zeng
author_sort Zhigang Rong
collection DOAJ
description Bone infections, specifically chronic osteomyelitis, are characterized by recurrent episodes. They are considered intractable clinical diseases as they require protracted and difficult-to-cure courses. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is the most common pathogen responsible for bone infections and has high destruction rates. Previous literature has indicated that during S. aureus osteomyelitis, immune evasion mainly involves three mechanisms: biofilm formation, intracellular infection, and abscess formation. However, recently, it was observed that S. aureus can enter and persist for a long time in the Osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network (OLCN), a bone microstructure. Furthermore, it has been found to successfully evade the host’s immune system via natural physical barriers, chemical properties, and bone microstructure’s immune escape mechanisms. Therefore, S. aureus bone infections are more difficult to cure than soft-tissue infections. Currently, there are only a few studies on OLCN invasion by S. aureus, and the clinical evidence is not sufficient. Therefore, this review aimed to combine relevant published literature on the OLCN-mediated immune escape of S. aureus to elaborate on the pathological mechanisms associated with protracted and difficult-to-cure bone infections. The findings will provide a scientific basis and theoretical foundation for future comprehensive analysis of how S. aureus invades OLCN and novel treatment strategies for bone infections.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-c6d77607d2f746f18dacd155e24fd7b12025-08-20T02:24:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-06-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.15920861592086Immune escape of Staphylococcus aureus mediated by osteocyte lacuna-canalicular network leads to persistent and uncured bone infectionZhigang Rong0Zhigang Rong1Xiaozhen Chen2Leilei Qin3Xiaohua Wang4Fei Luo5Quanming Zou6Hao Zeng7Department of Orthopaedics, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, ChinaInstitute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, ChinaBone infections, specifically chronic osteomyelitis, are characterized by recurrent episodes. They are considered intractable clinical diseases as they require protracted and difficult-to-cure courses. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is the most common pathogen responsible for bone infections and has high destruction rates. Previous literature has indicated that during S. aureus osteomyelitis, immune evasion mainly involves three mechanisms: biofilm formation, intracellular infection, and abscess formation. However, recently, it was observed that S. aureus can enter and persist for a long time in the Osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network (OLCN), a bone microstructure. Furthermore, it has been found to successfully evade the host’s immune system via natural physical barriers, chemical properties, and bone microstructure’s immune escape mechanisms. Therefore, S. aureus bone infections are more difficult to cure than soft-tissue infections. Currently, there are only a few studies on OLCN invasion by S. aureus, and the clinical evidence is not sufficient. Therefore, this review aimed to combine relevant published literature on the OLCN-mediated immune escape of S. aureus to elaborate on the pathological mechanisms associated with protracted and difficult-to-cure bone infections. The findings will provide a scientific basis and theoretical foundation for future comprehensive analysis of how S. aureus invades OLCN and novel treatment strategies for bone infections.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1592086/fullStaphylococcus aureusosteocyte lacuno-canalicular networkimmune escapebone infectionchronic osteomyelitis
spellingShingle Zhigang Rong
Zhigang Rong
Xiaozhen Chen
Leilei Qin
Xiaohua Wang
Fei Luo
Quanming Zou
Hao Zeng
Immune escape of Staphylococcus aureus mediated by osteocyte lacuna-canalicular network leads to persistent and uncured bone infection
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Staphylococcus aureus
osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network
immune escape
bone infection
chronic osteomyelitis
title Immune escape of Staphylococcus aureus mediated by osteocyte lacuna-canalicular network leads to persistent and uncured bone infection
title_full Immune escape of Staphylococcus aureus mediated by osteocyte lacuna-canalicular network leads to persistent and uncured bone infection
title_fullStr Immune escape of Staphylococcus aureus mediated by osteocyte lacuna-canalicular network leads to persistent and uncured bone infection
title_full_unstemmed Immune escape of Staphylococcus aureus mediated by osteocyte lacuna-canalicular network leads to persistent and uncured bone infection
title_short Immune escape of Staphylococcus aureus mediated by osteocyte lacuna-canalicular network leads to persistent and uncured bone infection
title_sort immune escape of staphylococcus aureus mediated by osteocyte lacuna canalicular network leads to persistent and uncured bone infection
topic Staphylococcus aureus
osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network
immune escape
bone infection
chronic osteomyelitis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1592086/full
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