Open AccessM protein mediated adhesion of M type 24 Streptococcus pyogenes stimulates release of interleukin‐6 by HEp‐2 tissue culture cells
Author(s) -
Courtney Harry S,
Ofek Itzhak,
Hasty David L
Publication year - 1997
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.1574-6968.1997.tb10395.x
Subject(s) - lipoteichoic acid , streptococcus pyogenes , microbiology and biotechnology , adhesion , streptococcaceae , streptococcus , biology , bacteria , chemistry , staphylococcus aureus , organic chemistry , genetics , antibiotics
We investigated the contributions of lipoteichoic acid and M protein to reversible and irreversible adhesion of group A streptococci and the effects of such adhesion on release of interleukin‐6. Streptococci in which lipoteichoic acid was masked by the hyaluronate capsule were readily washed from HEp‐2 cells, indicating no attachment. Unencapsulated, M‐negative streptococci in which lipoteichoic acid was exposed were removed more slowly, indicating loose attachment. Only unencapsulated streptococci that expressed both lipoteichoic acid and M protein remained stably adherent to HEp‐2 cells throughout multiple washes. Streptococci expressing both M protein and lipoteichoic acid induced release of interleukin‐6 from HEp‐2 cells, whereas an isogenic, M‐negative mutant failed to induce release of interleukin‐6. These data suggest that lipoteichoic acid mediates reversible adhesion and that M protein is required for irreversible adhesion and for inducing release of interleukin‐6 from HEp‐2 cells.