title: Different Use of Cell Surface Glycosaminoglycans As Adherence Receptors to Corneal Cells by Gram Positive and Gram Negative Pathogens.
abstract: The epithelium of the cornea is continuously exposed to pathogens, and adhesion to epithelial cells is regarded as an essential first step in bacterial pathogenesis. In this article, the involvement of glycosaminoglycans in the adhesion of various pathogenic bacteria to corneal epithelial cells is analyzed. All microorganisms use glycosaminoglycans as receptors, but arranged in different patterns depending on the Gram-type of the bacterium. The heparan sulfate chains of syndecans are the main receptors, though other molecular species also seem to be involved, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria. Adherence is inhibited differentially by peptides, including heparin binding sequences, indicating the participation of various groups of Gram-positive, and -negative adhesins. The length of the saccharides produces a major effect, and low molecular weight chains inhibit the binding of Gram-negative microorganisms but increase the adherence of Gram-positives. Pathogen adhesion appears to occur preferentially through sulfated domains, and is very dependent on N- and 6-O-sulfation of the glucosamine residue and, to a lesser extent, 2-O sulfation of uronic acid. These data show the differential use of corneal receptors, which could facilitate the development of new anti-infective strategies.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology, Vision Sciences and Advanced Therapies Research Group, Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Universidad de OviedoOviedo, Spain; Departmento de Biología Funcional, Universidad de OviedoOviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology, Vision Sciences and Advanced Therapies Research Group, Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Universidad de Oviedo Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merayo-Lloves
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de OviedoOviedo, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Universidad de OviedoOviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology, Vision Sciences and Advanced Therapies Research Group, Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Universidad de Oviedo Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alcalde
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology, Vision Sciences and Advanced Therapies Research Group, Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Universidad de OviedoOviedo, Spain; Departmento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Universidad de OviedoOviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: García-Suárez
authors.affiliation: Fundación de Investigación Oftalmológica, Instituto Oftalmológico Fernández-Vega Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: José F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Alfonso
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology, Vision Sciences and Advanced Therapies Research Group, Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Universidad de Oviedo Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baamonde
authors.affiliation: Fundación de Investigación Oftalmológica, Instituto Oftalmológico Fernández-Vega Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Vega
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology, Vision Sciences and Advanced Therapies Research Group, Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Universidad de OviedoOviedo, Spain; Departmento de Biología Funcional, Universidad de OviedoOviedo, Spain; Departmento de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Central de AsturiasOviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vazquez
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology, Vision Sciences and Advanced Therapies Research Group, Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Universidad de OviedoOviedo, Spain; Departmento de Biología Funcional, Universidad de OviedoOviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Quirós
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000382:microbiology*; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000502:physiology*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface
keywords: bacterial keratitis; bacterial pathogenesis; cornea; glycosaminoglycans; proteoglycans