Eukaryotic cell signaling and transcriptional activation induced by bacterial porins

The protein composition of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria consists of about 20 immunochemically distinct proteins, termed outer membrane proteins (OMPs). Apart from their structural role, OMPs have been shown to have other functions, particularly with regard to transport, and have been classified as permeases and porins. Porins, during their interaction with the host, are immunogenic and also directly stimulate several cellular functions. Porins work both as molecules present on the bacterial surface and as molecules released by bacteria. Lipopolysaccharide and OMPs, the major structural macromolecular constituents of the outer membrane, carry out a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of Gram-negative infections. This brief review describes the multiple facets of the biological activities of porins both in vitro and in vivo, particularly focusing on their ability to induce the expression of cytokines and other factors that modulate cellular activities with either pathological or adaptive consequences. This brief discussion will focus on the signal transmission mechanisms induced by bacterial porins.