title: PAf receptor anchors Streptococcus pneumoniae to activated human endothelial cells.
abstract: Streptococcus pneumoniae can produce asymptomatic colonization or aggressive sepsis. We sought to differentiate the molecular mechanisms of these disparate courses. Cytokine or thrombin activation of human vascular endothelial cells and type II pneumocytes enhanced pneumococcal adherence relative to resting cells. Adherence and subsequent invasion was dramatically reduced by PAF receptor antagonists. Cells transfected with the PAF receptor gained the ability to support pneumococcal adherence. PAF or PAF receptor antagonists inhibited attachment and invasion. Adherence involved phosphorylcholine on the pneumococcal teichoic acid. Virulent pneumococci target the PAF receptor on activated human cells, a necessary step to facilitate subsequent invasion.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Cundell
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerard
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Idanpaan-Heikkila
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Tuomanen
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Gerard
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C039351:platelet activating factor receptor