Cell signaling by the type IV pili of pathogenic Neisseria.
J Biol Chem
; 273(34): 21777-82, 1998 Aug 21.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9705315
ABSTRACT
Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis are Gram-negative bacterial pathogens that infect human mucosal epithelia. Type IV pilus-mediated adherence of these bacteria is a crucial early event for establishment of infection. In this work, we show that the type IV pili transduce a signal into the eucaryotic host cell. Purified adherent pili, but not pili from a low binding mutant, trigger an increase in the cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in target epithelial cells, a signal known to control many cellular responses. The [Ca2+]i increase was blocked by antibodies against CD46, a putative pilus receptor, suggesting a role for this protein in signal transduction. Pilus-mediated attachment was inhibited by depletion of host cell intracellular Ca2+ stores but not by removal of extracellular Ca2+. Further, kinase inhibition studies showed that pilus-mediated adherence is dependent on casein kinase II. In summary, these data reveal a novel function of the type IV pili, namely induction of signal transduction pathways in host cells.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Health context:
3_ND
/
4_TD
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cell Communication
/
Fimbriae, Bacterial
/
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
/
Neisseria meningitidis
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Biol Chem
Year:
1998
Document type:
Article