Translocation of Campylobacter jejuni across human polarized epithelial cell monolayer cultures

The ability of Campylobacter jejuni isolates to translocate across an epithelial cell barrier was investigated by using polarized Caco-2 cell monolayers grown on microporous membrane filters. The 4 C. jejuni isolates tested all traversed the Caco-2 cell monolayers and displayed similar translocation kinetics. The number of bacteria crossing the polarized cell monolayers continued to increase with time until 4 h after inoculation, at which time a maximum rate of translocation was observed. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that C. jejuni translocated across polarized Caco-2 cell monolayers by passing both through and between cells. Chloramphenicol, an inhibitor of bacterial protein synthesis, reduced the translocation of C. jejuni. Bacterial attachment, internalization, and translocation were inhibited at low temperature. These data indicate that adherence, penetration, and translocation of C. jejuni require active bacterial and target cell processes and further suggest a role for cellular translocation in the pathogenesis of C. jejuni-mediated enteritis.