title: Changes in the adherens junctions of human endothelial cells infected with spotted fever group rickettsiae.
abstract: Rickettsiae of the spotted fever group are obligately intracellular bacteria that primarily infect the vascular endothelium, invade adjacent cells propelled by actin polymerization, and cause severe systemic diseases. Endothelial dysfunction and vascular leakage develop as a consequence; this effect is the pathophysiological mechanism that explains most clinical manifestations. Here we report that rickettsial infection of cultured primary human endothelial cells is associated with the formation of gaps in the interendothelial adherens junctions, occurring late during the course of in vitro infections but not early, even when rickettsial loads are significant.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, DC, Colombia.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valbuena
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D012284:Rickettsia rickettsii / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012373:Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000473:pathology