Open AccessAdherence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae to human alveolar macrophages
Author(s) -
Athamna Abed,
Kramer Mordechai R.,
Kahane Itzhak
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1996.tb00064.x
Subject(s) - mycoplasma pneumoniae , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody opsonization , biology , alveolar macrophage , opsonin , sialic acid , macrophage , fetuin , immune system , pulmonary alveolus , glycoprotein , glycolipid , immunology , biochemistry , pneumonia , phagocytosis , medicine , in vitro
The human pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes primary atypical‐cold agglutinin‐positive pneumonia. Since alveolar macrophages internalize mycoplasma as part of their immune defense, we studied characteristics of the human macrophage receptor for opsonized and nonopsonized M. pneumoniae . The glass‐adhering subpopulation of M. pneumoniae attached more than the non‐adherent subpopulation. The attachment was dose‐dependent and enhanced by opsonization in the presence of human serum. It is inhibited by sulfated compounds such as dextran‐sulfate and polyanetholsulfonic acid, but not by dextran or several monosaccharides, suggesting that sulfated glycolipids on the macrophage surface may act as receptors for M. pneumoniae binding. In addition, sialylated compounds, such as fetuin and α 1‐acid glycoprotein, were found to be potent inhibitors of the attachment, also indicating the role of sialic acid residue in recognition and attachment of M. pneumoniae to human alveolar macrophages.