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Effect of mucin on Campylobacter jejuni association and invasion on HEp-2 cells
1Départemente de Microbiologie, Centre Médical Universitaire, Genéve, Switzerland.
Abstract:
We report the development of an in vitro assay using HEp-2 cell monolayers in which cell association of five C. jejuni strains and E. coli K12 C600 were tested under different experimental conditions. Both total cell associated colony forming units (CFU) and the CFU protected from gentamicin killing (i.e. internalized bacteria) were determined. Pretreatment of HEp-2 cells with mucin (100 micrograms/ml) enhanced internalization of four fresh isolates of C. jejuni by 3.2 to 20.7-fold, depending on the strain, but not internalization of C. jejuni K105 (a stock culture) or E. coli C600. Mucin also increased the total number of cell associated C. jejuni fresh isolates by 2 to 3.4-fold, the four strains yielding similar results. We conclude from these studies that mucin, which has been shown to be a prerequisite of intestinal colonization by C. jejuni, also promotes infectivity.
Insights
Mucin enhances the internalization of fresh Campylobacter jejuni isolates into HEp-2 cells, promoting bacterial infectivity. This finding supports mucin's role in intestinal colonization by C. jejuni.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide.
- Intestinal colonization by C. jejuni is a prerequisite for infection.
- The role of host factors in C. jejuni adherence and invasion is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of mucin on the interaction of C. jejuni with HEp-2 cells.
- To quantify bacterial internalization and cell association under different conditions.
Main Methods:
- Development of an in vitro assay using HEp-2 cell monolayers.
- Testing cell association and gentamicin-protected internalization of C. jejuni and E. coli K12 C600.
- Pretreatment of HEp-2 cells with mucin (100 µg/ml).
Main Results:
- Mucin pretreatment significantly enhanced C. jejuni internalization (3.2–20.7-fold) in four fresh isolates.
- Mucin increased total cell-associated C. jejuni (2–3.4-fold) for the same isolates.
- Mucin did not affect the internalization of C. jejuni K105 or E. coli K12 C600.
Conclusions:
- Mucin promotes the infectivity of C. jejuni by enhancing bacterial internalization into host cells.
- These findings highlight mucin as a key factor in C. jejuni pathogenesis.
- The in vitro assay provides a valuable tool for studying bacterial-host interactions.