Open AccessStimulation of bacterial adherence by neutrophil defensins varies among bacterial species but not among host cell types
Author(s) -
Gorter Annelies D.,
Hiemstra Pieter S.,
Bentzmann Sophie,
Wetering Sandra,
Dankert Jacob,
Alphen Loek
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2000.tb01463.x
Subject(s) - biology , stimulation , microbiology and biotechnology , host (biology) , bacteria , bacterial cell structure , immunology , genetics , neuroscience
Adherence of Haemophilus influenzae to bronchial epithelial cells is enhanced by neutrophil defensins, which are released from activated neutrophils during inflammation [Gorter et al. (1998) J. Infect. Dis. 178, 1067–1078]. In this study, we showed that the adherence of H. influenzae to various epithelial, fibroblast‐like and endothelial cell types was significantly enhanced by defensins (20 μg ml −1 ). Defensins stimulated also the adherence of Moraxella catarrhalis , Neisseria meningitidis and nonencapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae to the NCI‐H292 cell line. In contrast, defensins did not affect the adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa , encapsulated S. pneumoniae , Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis . These results suggest that the defensin‐enhanced adherence might support the adherence and possibly persistence of the selected bacterial species using the respiratory tract as port of entry.