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Curli, fibrous surface proteins of Escherichia coli, interact with major histocompatibility complex class I molecules

Olsén, Arne LU ; Wick, Mary Jo LU ; Mörgelin, Matthias LU and Björck, Lars LU (1998) In Infection and Immunity 66(3). p.649-944
Abstract
Curli are thin, coiled fibers expressed on the surface of Escherichia coli that bind several matrix and plasma proteins such as fibronectin, laminin, plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator, and H-kininogen. In this work, we examined the interactions between curli-expressing E. coli and human major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) and class II (MHC-II) molecules. Curliated E. coli was found to interact with an MHC-I-expressing lymphoma cell line as shown by scanning electron microscopy, whereas the binding to a mutant variant of this cell line expressing small amounts of MHC-I molecules was significantly lower. Moreover, curli-expressing E. coli bound purified radiolabeled MHC-I but not MHC-II molecules, whereas an isogenic... (More)
Curli are thin, coiled fibers expressed on the surface of Escherichia coli that bind several matrix and plasma proteins such as fibronectin, laminin, plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator, and H-kininogen. In this work, we examined the interactions between curli-expressing E. coli and human major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) and class II (MHC-II) molecules. Curliated E. coli was found to interact with an MHC-I-expressing lymphoma cell line as shown by scanning electron microscopy, whereas the binding to a mutant variant of this cell line expressing small amounts of MHC-I molecules was significantly lower. Moreover, curli-expressing E. coli bound purified radiolabeled MHC-I but not MHC-II molecules, whereas an isogenic curli-deficient mutant strain showed no affinity for either MHC-I or MHC-II. Purified insoluble curli could also bind 125I-labeled MHC-I molecules, and in Western blot experiments the 15-kDa curlin subunit protein bound intact MHC-I molecules as well as beta2-microglobulin, the light chain of MHC-I molecules. A direct interaction between monomeric MHC-I molecules and a bacterial surface protein has previously not been reported. The binding of curli to MHC-I molecules, which are present on virtually all cells in higher vertebrates, will provide curliated E. coli with ample opportunities to interact with a great variety of hosts and host cells. This should facilitate the adaptation of E. coli to different ecological niches, and in human infections the interaction between curli and MHC-I molecules could contribute to adherence and colonization. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Infection and Immunity
volume
66
issue
3
pages
649 - 944
publisher
American Society for Microbiology
external identifiers
  • pmid:9488380
  • scopus:0031935943
ISSN
1098-5522
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
fed09114-d054-4e56-9311-66715bc2ba5a (old id 1113503)
alternative location
http://iai.asm.org/cgi/content/full/66/3/944
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:18:56
date last changed
2022-01-27 01:56:11
@article{fed09114-d054-4e56-9311-66715bc2ba5a,
  abstract     = {{Curli are thin, coiled fibers expressed on the surface of Escherichia coli that bind several matrix and plasma proteins such as fibronectin, laminin, plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator, and H-kininogen. In this work, we examined the interactions between curli-expressing E. coli and human major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) and class II (MHC-II) molecules. Curliated E. coli was found to interact with an MHC-I-expressing lymphoma cell line as shown by scanning electron microscopy, whereas the binding to a mutant variant of this cell line expressing small amounts of MHC-I molecules was significantly lower. Moreover, curli-expressing E. coli bound purified radiolabeled MHC-I but not MHC-II molecules, whereas an isogenic curli-deficient mutant strain showed no affinity for either MHC-I or MHC-II. Purified insoluble curli could also bind 125I-labeled MHC-I molecules, and in Western blot experiments the 15-kDa curlin subunit protein bound intact MHC-I molecules as well as beta2-microglobulin, the light chain of MHC-I molecules. A direct interaction between monomeric MHC-I molecules and a bacterial surface protein has previously not been reported. The binding of curli to MHC-I molecules, which are present on virtually all cells in higher vertebrates, will provide curliated E. coli with ample opportunities to interact with a great variety of hosts and host cells. This should facilitate the adaptation of E. coli to different ecological niches, and in human infections the interaction between curli and MHC-I molecules could contribute to adherence and colonization.}},
  author       = {{Olsén, Arne and Wick, Mary Jo and Mörgelin, Matthias and Björck, Lars}},
  issn         = {{1098-5522}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{649--944}},
  publisher    = {{American Society for Microbiology}},
  series       = {{Infection and Immunity}},
  title        = {{Curli, fibrous surface proteins of Escherichia coli, interact with major histocompatibility complex class I molecules}},
  url          = {{http://iai.asm.org/cgi/content/full/66/3/944}},
  volume       = {{66}},
  year         = {{1998}},
}