Open AccessInfluence of P blood group phenotype on susceptibility to urinary tract infection
Author(s) -
Lomberg H.,
Svanborg Edén C.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1989.tb02422.x
Subject(s) - urinary system , phenotype , asymptomatic , pathogenesis , asymptomatic bacteriuria , immunology , bacteriuria , glycolipid , biology , antigen , group b , group a , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene
Bacterial attachment is an important event in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection (UTI). Increased receptivity on the host cells has been suggested influence proneness to infection. The dual function of the globoseries of glycolipids both as receptors for attaching E. coli and as P blood group antigens lead us to examine the P blood group phenotype distribution in UTI prone patient populations. A correlation between the P 1 blood group phenotype and susceptibility to UTI was found. Patients with recurrent pyelonephritis had 74/79 (94%), P 1 compared to 75% in healthy controls. In contrast patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) had a reduced frequency of P 1 , 43/74 (58%). P 1 and P 2 individuals differ in amount and composition of the globoseries of glycolipids on their erythrocytes. A similar difference in other tissues, e.g. uroepithelial cells might explain the association of P 1 with UTI. There was, however, no significant difference in bacterial adherence to uroepithelial cells from P 1 and P 2 individuals. Other mechanisms explaining the increase in P 1 individuals in recurrent pyelonephritis are discussed.