title: Chlamydophila pneumoniae attachment and infection in low proteoglycan expressing human lymphoid Jurkat cells.
abstract: This study investigated the proteoglycan (PG)-dependent mechanism of Chlamydophila pneumoniae attachment to lymphocytic cells. Lymphoid Jurkat cells and epithelial HEp-2 cells were statically infected with C. pneumoniae (TW183). Transmission electron microscopy and assessment of inclusion-forming units indicated that the bacteria grew normally in Jurkat cells and were capable of producing secondary infection; however, they grew at a slower rate than in HEp-2 cells. RT-PCR analysis indicated that HEp-2 cells strongly expressed PG-core protein encoding genes, thereby sustaining glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), such as heparin, on the cellular surface. Similar gene expression levels were not observed in Jurkat cells, with the exception of glypican-1. Immunofluorescence analysis also supported strong heparin expression in HEp-2 cells and minimal expression in Jurkat cells, although heparan sulfate pretreatment significantly inhibited bacterial attachment to both cell types. Immunofluorescent co-staining with antibodies against chlamydial LPS and heparin did not identify bacterial and heparin co-localization on Jurkat cells. We also confirmed that when C. pneumoniae was statically infected to human CD4(+) peripheral blood lymphocytes known not expressing detectable level of heparin, the bacteria attached to and formed inclusion bodies in the cells. Thus, the attachment mechanism of C. pneumoniae to Jurkat cells with low PG expression is unique when compared with HEp-2 cells and potentially independent of GAGs such as heparin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Nishi-5 Kita-12 Jo, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0812, Japan.
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Kasumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Ayumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Motohashi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Itaru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Haruki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Chikara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuno
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019169:Jurkat Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011509:Proteoglycans