Ingestion of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli by human peritoneal mesothelial cells.
In the present study we examined whether mesothelial cells can ingest and digest bacteria. The results showed that all strains were ingested. Ingested staphylococci proliferated abundantly, and only a few were digested. Escherichia coli, however, was digested during the first 8 h, whereafter the mesothelial cells disintegrated and proliferation of bacteria could be observed. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Visser
C E
CE
Department of Cell Biology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, The Netherlands.
Brouwer-Steenbergen
J J
JJ
Schadee-Eestermans
I L
IL
Meijer
S
S
Krediet
R T
RT
Beelen
R H
RH
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006801:Humans; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis