Phenotypic Characterization ofMycoplasma synoviaeInduced Changes in the Metabolic and Sensitivity Profile ofIn VitroInfected Chicken Chondrocytes

Abstract

In infectious synovitis caused byMycoplasma synoviaechicken chondrocytes (CCH) may come into direct contact with these bacteria that are also capable of invading CCHin vitro. In this study, phenotype microarrays were used to evaluate the influence ofMycoplasma synoviaeon the global metabolic activity of CCH. Therefore, CCH were cultured in the presence of 504 individual compounds, spotted in wells of 11 phenotype microarrays for eukaryotic cells, and exposed toMycoplasma synoviaemembranes or viableMycoplasma synoviae.Metabolic activity and sensitivity of normal cells versus infected cells were evaluated. Metabolic profiles of CCH treated with viableMycoplasma synoviaeor its membranes were significantly different from those of CCH alone. CCH treated withMycoplasma synoviaemembranes were able to use 48 carbon/nitrogen sources not used by CCH alone. Treatment also influenced ion uptake in CCH and intensified the sensitivity to 13 hormones, 5 immune mediators, and 29 cytotoxic chemicals. CCH were even more sensitive to hormones/immune mediators when exposed to viableMycoplasma synoviae. Our results indicate that exposure toMycoplasma synoviaeor its membranes induces a wide range of metabolic and sensitivity modifications in CCH that can contribute to pathological processes in the development of infectious synovitis.