title: Heparin blocks the adhesion of E. coli O157:H7 to human colonic epithelial cells.
abstract: Adhesion of Shiga toxin-producing Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 to human colonic epithelium is a critical step for infection by this type of bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that adherence of EHEC O157:H7 to cultured human colonic T84 epithelial monolayers can be blocked by heparin and heparan sulfate in a dose-dependent fashion. In doing this, heparin and heparan sulfate also prevent dysfunction of the T84 barrier and disorganization of epithelial tight junction protein ZO-1 caused by EHEC O157:H7. This inhibition by heparin and heparan sulfate seems to result from a block in the binding interactions of bacteria intimin with epithelial beta(1) integrins. This study provides evidence, for the first time, that heparin and heparan sulfate can serve as novel effective blockers in preventing EHEC O157:H7 infection.
authors.affiliation: Joint Institute of Virology, Jiangsu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ya-Lan
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zen
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006493:Heparin; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D019012:Integrin beta1; C073819:eaeA protein, E coli