Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infects and multiplies in enteric glial cells.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the role of enteric glial cells during infection with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in Crohn's disease.


METHODS
In order to establish the role of enteric glial cells during infection with M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in Crohn's disease, Map adhesion experiments on enteric glial cells were performed as well as expression analysis of Map sigma factors during infection.


RESULTS
In this study, for the first time, we found a high affinity of MAP to enteric glial cells and we analyzed the expression of MAP sigma factors under different conditions of growth.


CONCLUSIONS
The fact that Map showed a high affinity to the glial cells raises concerns about the complicated etiology of the Crohn's disease. Elucidation of the mechanisms whereby inflammation alters enteric neural control of gut functions may lead to novel treatments for Crohn's disease.
Sechi
Leonardo A
LA
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sezione di Microbiologia Sperimentale e Clinica, Universita degli studi di Sassari, Viale S. Pietro 43/B, Sassari 07100, Italy. sechila@uniss.it
Ruehl
Anne
A
Ahmed
Niyaz
N
Usai
Donatella
D
Paccagnini
Daniela
D
Felis
Giovanna E
GE
Zanetti
Stefania
S
D002460:Cell Line; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D012808:Sigma Factor