Wall Teichoic Acid Mediates Staphylococcus aureus Binding to Endothelial Cells via the Scavenger Receptor LOX-1.

The success of as a major cause for endovascular infections depends on effective interactions with blood-vessel walls. We have previously shown that uses its wall teichoic acid (WTA), a surface glycopolymer, to attach to endothelial cells. However, the endothelial WTA receptor remained unknown. We show here that the endothelial oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (LOX-1) interacts with WTA and permits effective binding of to human endothelial cells. Purified LOX-1 bound to isolated WTA. Ectopic LOX-1 expression led to increased binding of wild type but not of a WTA-deficient mutant to a cell line, and LOX-1 blockage prevented binding to endothelial cells. Moreover, WTA and LOX-1 expression levels correlated with the efficacy of the -endothelial interaction. Thus, LOX-1 is an endothelial ligand for , whose blockage may help to prevent or treat severe endovascular infections.