title: The dual role of Escherichia coli in the course of ulcerative colitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examines the dual role of Escherichia coli in the course of ulcerative colitis (UC). The intestinal microbiota is considered to play an important role in UC pathogenesis, but how E. coli contributes to inflammation in UC is still unknown. On the one hand, we demonstrated that there was a significant increase in the number of E. coli at the sites of inflammation in patients with UC, which can lead to immune system activation, whilst, on the other hand, E. coli may contribute to the resolution of inflammatory reactions since E. coli can inhibit hydroxyl radical formation by eliminating substrates of the Fenton reaction, by assimilating ferrous iron (Fe2+) and inducing the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). On this way, E. coli may affect the initiation and/or prolongation of remission stages of UC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten E. coli strains were isolated from the colonic mucosa of patients in the acute phase of UC. Using PCR, we examined the presence of genes encoding catalases (katG and katE) and proteins participating in iron acquisition (feoB, fepA, fhuA, fecA, iroN, fyuA, and iutA) in these E. coli strains. To determine if iron ions influence the growth rate of E. coli and its ability to decompose H2O2, we grew E. coli in defined culture media without iron (M9(-)) or with ferrous ions (M9(Fe2+)). Expression levels of genes encoding catalases were examined by real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All investigated E. coli strains had catalase genes (katG, katE), genes coding for receptors for Fe2+(feoB) and at least one of the genes responsible for iron acquisition related to siderophores (fepA, fhuA, fecA, iroN, fyuA, iutA). E. coli cultured in M9(Fe2+) grew faster than E. coli in M9(-). The presence of Fe2+in the media contributed to the increased rate of H2O2decomposition by E. coli and induced katG gene expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  E. coli eliminates substrates of the Fenton reaction by assimilating Fe2+and biosynthesizing enzymes that catalyze H2O2decomposition. Thus, E. coli can inhibit hydroxyl radical formation, and affects the initiation and/or prolongation of remission stages of UC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18 Street, 31-121, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pilarczyk-Zurek
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18 Street, 31-121, Cracow, Poland. mbstrus@cyf-kr.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strus
authors.affiliation: Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Nature Conservation, 33 Mickiewicza Avenue, 31-120, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adamski
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18 Street, 31-121, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Heczko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D017262:Siderophores / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C045076:Fenton's reagent; C470580:FeoB protein, E coli; D017262:Siderophores; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007501:Iron; C102664:hydroperoxidase II; D002374:Catalase; C051253:katG protein, E coli
keywords: Catalases; Escherichia coli; Ferrous acquisition; Ulcerative colitis