309 Dissemination of cutaneous staphylococcus aureus infection is limited by early neutrophil recruitment regulated by ECRG4

Abstract

Neutrophils are a critical component of the innate response to cutaneous infection, limiting the dissemination of microbes through the delivery of antimicrobial molecules and cytokines that mediate the inflammatory response. Esophageal Cancer Related Gene 4 (ECRG4) encodes a cell surface protein that is highly expressed on circulating leukocytes in humans and mice and has been shown to amplify early neutrophil recruitment to cutaneous injury. Given the importance of a rapid innate response for limiting cutaneous infection, we hypothesized that ECRG4 may be important for preventing bacterial dissemination through its ability to regulate early neutrophil recruitment.