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P fimbria-specific B cell responses in patients with urinary tract infection

Anu Kantele1, Timo Möttönen, Kyösti Ala-Kaila

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. anu.kantele@hus.fi

The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|December 16, 2003
PubMed

Insights

A local immune response to P fimbria, a key factor in Escherichia coli urinary tract infections, was observed in patients with pyelonephritis. This finding supports P fimbria as a potential vaccine target for preventing kidney infections.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Urology

Background:

  • Local immune responses play a crucial role in combating urinary tract infections (UTIs).
  • P fimbria, an essential virulence factor of Escherichia coli, is a promising candidate for UTI vaccine development, particularly against pyelonephritis (PN).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the local immune response to P fimbria in patients with pyelonephritis (PN) and lower urinary tract infection (LUTI) caused by Escherichia coli.
  • To evaluate the potential of P fimbria as a target for vaccines against UTIs.

Main Methods:

  • Studied mucosa-derived antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) and urinary antibodies in eleven patients with PN and fourteen patients with LUTI.
  • Analyzed the immune response to P fimbria and outer-membrane protein A in patients infected with either P-fimbriated (P+) or non-P-fimbriated (P-) E. coli.

Main Results:

  • An ASC response to P fimbria was detected in all five PN patients with P+ E. coli and one of five LUTI patients with P+ E. coli.
  • The immune response to P fimbria was significantly stronger in patients with P+ PN compared to those with P- PN or P+ LUTI.
  • P fimbria-specific urinary immunoglobulin A levels were elevated in patients with P+ PN compared to those with P- PN.

Conclusions:

  • A P fimbria-specific local immune response is evident in patients with pyelonephritis.
  • These findings strongly support the use of P fimbria in the development of locally administered vaccines for UTIs.

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