title: Inv-mediated apoptosis of epithelial cells infected with enteropathogenic Yersinia: a protective effect of lactoferrin.
abstract: Yersinia spp., Gram-negative bacteria infecting animals and humans, contain plasmid and chromosomal genes coding for different virulence factors, of which outer membrane proteins are the most important. Among these, the inv gene product allows bacterial adherence and penetration of cells exposed at the intestinal lumen surface, and subsequent colonization of lymph nodes. In this research, we have studied the effects of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) on Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis Inv-mediated interactions with epithelial cells. In particular, we analyzed bLf activity toward adhesion, invasion, and cell death induction by Yersinia spp. and the Escherichia coli HB101 (pRI203) strain (expressing the cloned Yersinia inv gene). Results showed that bLf was ineffective in bacterial adhesivity and invasivity whereas it inhibited apoptosis with a dose-dependent relationship. As epithelial cell apoptosis helps enteropathogenic Yersinia to attack the host and to gain access to the tissue, our results demonstrate a new potential antimicrobial application for bLf.
authors.affiliation: Department of Technology and Health, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy. superti@iss.it
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Superti
authors.forename: Agostina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietrantoni
authors.forename: Assunta Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Di Biase
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longhi
authors.forename: Piera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tinari
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D015007:Yersinia / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D037521:Virulence Factors; C053476:invasin, Yersinia; D007781:Lactoferrin