title: Adhesins of Escherichia coli associated with extra-intestinal pathogenicity confer binding to colonic epithelial cells.
abstract: Escherichia coli adhesins are virulence factors in intestinal and extra-intestinal infections, but their role in normal intestinal colonization has not been defined. We investigated the intestinal adherence of E. coli with Dr hemagglutinin, S fimbriae, CFA/I or CFA/II, using freshly isolated ileal or colonic enterocytes and cells from the human colonic cell line HT-29. E. coli with S-fimbrial adhesins (Sfa I or Sfa II), P or type 1 fimbriae, adhered in a non-polarized manner, and in similar numbers to colonic and ileal enterocytes. S fimbriae of the variety Sfa II (originating from a meningitis isolate), mediated a stronger binding than Sfa I (of uropathogenic origin). Strains expressing Dr hemagglutinin adhered preferentially to the brush borders, slightly better to colonic than ileal enterocytes. Strains expressing CFA/I or II adhered to colonic and ileal enterocytes, although brush border adherence was predominantly observed with ileal cells. Binding to HT-29 cells paralleled binding to colonic enterocytes for all adhesin specificities except CFA/I. The results suggest that Dr hemagglutinin, P-, type 1- and S-fimbrial adhesins mediate binding to both colonic and ileal enterocytes. These specificities may contribute to the establishment of E. coli in the intestinal microflora, which precedes their spread to extra-intestinal sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Adlerberth
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Svanborg
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Svennerholm
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nordgren
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Wold
mesh_terms: D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006388:Hemagglutinins; C022924:colonization factor antigens; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins