title: Zinc-dependent cytoadherence of Legionella pneumophila to human alveolar epithelial cells in vitro.
abstract: 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.
authors: Université de Lyon, Lyon F-69008, France.
authors: Diaraf Farba
authors: DF
authors: Yaradou
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Raze
authors: Christophe
authors: C
authors: Ginevra
authors: Florence
authors: F
authors: Ader
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Doléans-Jordheim
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Vandenesch
authors: Franco Dante
authors: FD
authors: Menozzi
authors: Jerome
authors: J
authors: Etienne
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Jarraud
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D011951:Receptors, Complement; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015032:Zinc