Zinc-dependent cytoadherence of Legionella pneumophila to human alveolar epithelial cells in vitro.
Microbial adherence to host cells is an early key step in the establishment of infection. During the course of Legionnaire's disease, Legionella interactions with host cells are best documented for resident macrophages. However, L. pneumophila can also replicate within type I and type II pneumocytes, which cover almost the entire alveolar surface. In the presence of zinc, we observed a significant and concentration-dependent increase in L. pneumophila adherence to and invasion of type II pneumocytes. The zinc-dependent adherence mechanism seemed to be host-cell-independent, as a similar increase in cytoadherence was observed with macrophages. We also found that zinc-dependent adherence of L. pneumophila appears to involve recognition of zinc-binding pneumocyte receptors by a bacterial adhesin, and heparan-sulfated host cell receptors, but not type IV pili.
Yaradou
Diaraf Farba
DF
Université de Lyon, Lyon F-69008, France.
Raze
Dominique
D
Ginevra
Christophe
C
Ader
Florence
F
Doléans-Jordheim
Anne
A
Vandenesch
François
F
Menozzi
Franco Dante
FD
Etienne
Jerome
J
Jarraud
Sophie
S
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000276:immunology; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000502:physiology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D011951:Receptors, Complement; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015032:Zinc