Identification of an active disaccharide unit of a glycoconjugate receptor for pneumococci attaching to human pharyngeal epithelial cells

Streptococcus pneumoniae produces at least two distinct enzymes with neuraminidase activity: cloning and expression of a second neuraminidase gene in Escherichia coli

A gene from Streptococcus pneumoniae was cloned in lambda EMBL301 and then expressed in Escherichia coli, which cleaved the fluorogenic neuraminidase substrate 2'-(4-methylumbelliferyl)-alpha-d-N-acetylneuraminic acid. The cloned gene therefore encodes an enzyme with neuraminidase activity. On the basis of restriction mapping and DNA hybridization studies, this gene could be distinguished from another pneumococcal neuraminidase gene cloned previously (A. M. Berry, J. C. Paton, E. M. Glare, D. Hansman, and D. E. A. Catcheside, Gene 71:299-305, 1988). Both neuraminidase genes were found in each of five isolates, covering at least three serotypes, of pneumococci tested.

The effect of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumolysin on human respiratory epithelium in vitro

Streptococcus pneumoniae culture filtrates and pneumolysin both slow human ciliary beating and damage respiratory epithelium in vitro. A polyclonal pneumolysin antibody bound to sepharose beads removed pneumolysin from culture filtrates and showed that pneumolysin alone was responsible for the effects on epithelium. In a 48-h organ culture pneumolysin caused ciliary slowing and epithelial disruption in a dose-dependent manner down to 5 ng/ml. Comparison of the ciliary slowing activity and pneumolysin concentration in filtrates in a continuous broth culture showed a maximal effect at 16 h (pneumolysin 7.5 micrograms/ml). Later the activity decreased while the pneumolysin concentration increased (8.8 micrograms/ml). This loss of activity was prevented by neutralisation of the acid pH of the culture medium. Eight different culture filtrates produced significant (P less than 0.05) ciliary slowing which correlated (r = 0.95) with simultaneously measured haemolytic (pneumolysin) activity. Substitution of tryptophan (position 433) by phenylalanine reduced the haemolytic and ciliary slowing activity of pneumolysin, but did not affect its ability to activate complement. There was no correlation between the ciliary slowing produced by the culture filtrate and that produced by the autolysate of a particular strain, nor between ciliary slowing and the extent of autolysis or the serotype of the strain.

Bacteria and endotoxin enhance basophil histamine release and potentiation is abolished by carbohydrates

Histamine release caused by anti-IgE, specific antigens and calcium ionophore A23187 was examined in leukocyte suspensions from healthy individuals and patients allergic to house dust mite and birch pollen. Staphylococcus aureus and LPS from Salmonella typhimurium were found to cause a synergistic enhancement of the release. The potentiation of mediator release by the bacteria and the endotoxin depends on a binding to the basophilocyte, followed by a non-transient event, since the potentiating effect persists after preincubation of the cells with the LPS followed by washout and leaving the cells for 30 min at 37 degrees C before stimulation with anti-IgE. The potentiation was abolished or reduced by galactose (10(-7) and 10(-6) M) and N-acetylglucosamine (10(-6) and 10(-5) M), acting by a binding to the basophil cell membrane, demonstrated by the persistence of effect after preincubation and washout of unbound sugar.

Influenza A virus enhances basophil histamine release and the enhancement is abolished by carbohydrates

Basophil histamine release was studied in leukocyte suspensions from normal individuals and from patients allergic to house dust mite or birch pollen. Mediator release caused by IgE-mediated reactions was examined by stimulating the cells with anti-IgE or specific antigens, and the calcium ionophore A23187 was used for a non-immunological histamine release. In all experiments influenza A virus caused a synergic enhancement of the mediator release and the potentiation was abolished by galactose (10(-7) to 10(-6) M) and by 10(-6) to 10(-5) M of N-acetylglucosamine, alpha-methyl-D-glucoside, alpha-methyl-D-mannoside, N-acetylneuraminic acid and lactose, but not by glucose. Wash-out experiments show that the sugars prevent the aggravation of mediator release by a binding of sugar to the basophil cell membrane, thereby causing a blockade of binding sites responsible for the potentiating effect of virus.

Glycosphingolipid receptors for Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The binding of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to glycosphingolipids and to buccal and bronchial epithelial cells was analyzed. Three independently expressed specificities were found by bacterial binding to glycosphingolipids separated by thin-layer chromatography. All strains bound gangliotria- and gangliotetrasylceramide. All but one of the strains bound sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids and lactosylceramide. The latter two specificities could be separated in that the lactosylceramide binding was retained and the sialic acid binding was suppressed when bovine serum albumin was used as a blocking agent in the thin-layer chromatography assay. The attachment to buccal epithelial cells, like the binding to sialylated compounds and lactosylceramide, was abolished by Formalin treatment of the bacteria, suggesting the importance of these specificities for cell adherence. In contrast, the binding to gangliotria- and gangliotetraosylceramide was retained by nonattaching Formalin-treated bacteria.

Anti-adhesive activity of human casein against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae

The casein fraction of human milk was found to inhibit the attachment of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae human respiratory tract epithelial cells. The inhibitory activity for S. pneumoniae remained after heat and trypsin treatment of the casein and was found in oligosaccharides released from casein. kappa-Casein, which is the most highly glycosylated casein component, inhibited pneumococcal attachment at concentrations similar to the whole casein fraction. The results are consistent with the known recognition of GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal by S. pneumoniae, since human milk and bovine colostrum, which contain GlcNAc, inhibited attachment, but mature bovine milk lacking GlcNAc did not. The effect on H. influenzae was similar to that on S. pneumoniae in that the attachment was inhibited by human casein and bovine colostrum, but not by either mature bovine milk or by the bovine casein fraction. The kappa-casein component of human milk was a less efficient inhibitor of H. influenzae attachment than the whole casein fraction and the free oligosaccharides were inactive. This anti-microbial effect of human casein represents a new mechanism for the protection by breast-milk against respiratory tract infection.

The complexity of mucins

Mucins represent the main components of gel-like secretions, or mucus, secreted by mucosae or some exocrine glands. These high-molecular-weight glycoproteins are characterized by the large number of carbohydrate chains O-glycosidically linked to the peptide. The determination of mucin molecular weight and conformation has been controversial for several reasons: 1) the methods used to solubilize mucus and to purify mucins are different and 2) the molecules have a strong tendency to aggregate or to bind to other molecules (peptides or lipids). Recently, electron microscopy has shown the filamentous shape of most mucins and their polydisperse character which, in some secretions, might correspond to a polymorphism of the peptide part of these molecules. The recent development of high pressure liquid chromatography and high-resolution proton NMR spectroscopy has allowed major progress in the structural study of mucin carbohydrate chains. These chains may have from 1 to about 20 sugars and bear different antigenic determinants, such as A, B, H, I, i, X, Y or Cad antigens. In some mucins, such as human respiratory mucins, the carbohydrate chain diversity is remarkable, which raises many questions. Mucins are molecules located at the interface between mucosae and the external environment. The carbohydrate chain diversity might allow many interactions between mucins and microorganisms and play a major role in the colonization or the defense of mucosae.

Turnover of cell-surface macromolecules in cultured dog tracheal epithelial cells

We studied the metabolism of sulfated cell-surface macromolecules in dog tracheal epithelial cells in primary culture. To examine the time-course and rate of appearance of sulfated macromolecules at the cell surface, the cells were pulsed with 35SO4 for short periods (5-15 min), and the incubation medium was sampled for spontaneously released macromolecules (basal secretions) and for release induced by trypsin (trypsin-accessible secretions). Trypsin-accessible 35S-labeled macromolecules appeared on the cell surface within 5-10 min, increased linearly, and plateaued by 40 min; the median transit time for 35S-labeled macromolecules to reach the cell surface was 21 min. 35S-labeled macromolecules in basal secretions increased with a similar time-course, reaching a plateau by 40 min. Incorporation of [3H]serine into the protein moiety of trypsin-accessible macromolecules occurred more slowly; trypsin-accessible 3H-labeled macromolecules were barely detectable at 1 h and increased to a maximum after 2 h, suggesting the presence of a preformed pool of nonsulfated core protein. Pretreatment with cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, decreased trypsin-accessible 35S-labeled macromolecules log-linearly depending on the duration of pretreatment providing an estimate of the rate of depletion of the core protein pool (t1/2 = 32 min). During continuous exposure to 35SO4, 35S-labeled macromolecules accumulated on the cell surface (trypsin-accessible compartment) for 16 h, at which point the cell-surface pool was saturated (t1/2 = 7.5 h). After pulse-labeling the cells with 35SO4 for 15 min, the 35S-labeled macromolecules disappeared continuously from the cell surface (t1/2 = 4.6 h), and 79% of the radioactivity was recovered in the medium as nondialyzable macromolecules. Release of the 35S-labeled macromolecules from the cell surface was abolished at 4 degrees C, indicative of an energy-dependent process, but multiple proteinase inhibitors did not affect the release. We conclude that sulfate is metabolized rapidly into epithelial cell-surface macromolecules, which accumulate continuously into a relatively large cell-surface pool, before they are released by an undefined energy-dependent mechanism.

A sandwich adhesion on Streptococcus pneumoniae attaching to human oropharyngeal epithelial cells in vitro

Streptococcus pneumoniae attach to human pharyngeal epithelial cells through the specific interaction of bacterial surface adhesins with glycoconjugate receptors. The present study defines the adhesin as a molecule bridging between an anchoring site in the bacterial cell wall and the epithelial cell receptor. The nature of the adhesin was defined in three ways: First, the attachment of whole bacteria was reduced by trypsin, periodate and heat. Second, heat treatment of whole bacteria was shown to release material, which was able to reconstitute the adherence. The heat extract bound to epithelial cells, as shown by fluorescence labelling, and agglutinated latex beads covalently coupled with receptor oligosaccharide. Active material could be extracted by heat from both high and low adhering strains, but could reconstitute only attaching strains. Third, the bacterial component binding the adhesin was localized to protoplasts and cell wall fractions obtained by mechanical or deoxycholate induced lysis of pneumococci. Isolated pneumococcal surface components, which did not inhibit attachment, included peptidoglycan, C polysaccharide, Forssmann antigen, capsular polysaccharide and a phenol extract produced in analogy to streptococcal lipoteichoic acid. The procedure used to extract the adhesin was previously used to prepare the competence factor. The competence deficient mutant RA7- attached poorly compared to the competent R6 parent. The possible relatedness of attachment to competence is discussed.

Role of attachment for the virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Adherence of microorganisms to mucosal surfaces is a general phenomenon among microorganisms infecting the human host. Its role for persistence and colonization as well as production of local inflammation is well established. This paper describes the adhesion of Streptococcus pneumoniae to human epithelial cells. Strains from various anatomical sites or diseases are compared for attaching capacity. Isolates from the same host but at different times are also compared. The molecular mechanisms, the so-called adhesin-receptor interactions, are partially described. The pneumococcus recognizes a sugar sequence; GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal; on the surface of the host epithelial cell. Glycoconjugates containing this disaccharide act as receptors for adhering pneumococci. The adhesin in pneumococcal attachment is less well characterized. It is a heat and trypsin sensitive component, most likely a peptide, which forms a bridge between the receptor and an anchoring site in the pneumococcal cell wall. Receptor active saccharides are part of the adhesion-inhibitory activity found in human milk.

Host parasite interaction in urinary tract infection

The last decade has provided new insight into the mechanisms of host-parasite interactions in the urinary tract. Reduction of host resistance appears to reduce the requirement for bacterial virulence, whereas the resistant host becomes infected with bacteria of high virulence. In the resistant host, bacterial virulence can be defined as the sum of properties required to colonize the urinary tract and induce tissue reactions. The ability to attach to uroepithelial cells is the single property most frequently associated with pyelonephritogenic clones. Attachment to the Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta-containing receptors promotes localization of bacteria to the kidney and the induction of lipopolysaccharide-mediated inflammation. Other virulence factors, defined by increased frequency in acute pyelonephritis compared with asymptomatic bacteriuria, include haemolysin and aerobactin production. Among the factors which influence the natural resistance to urinary tract infection are urinary flow and reactivity to endotoxin. The resistance induced by natural exposure to infection or immunization may be protective in experimental models, but the importance of this is not yet defined. The localization, severity and sequelae of urinary tract infection are determined by the balance between bacterial virulence and host resistance. Although disease is a result of the interaction between bacterial virulence and host resistance, these components are discussed separately for clarity.

Lectin mediated adhesion of Streptococcus pneumoniae and its specific inhibition in vitro and in vivo

According to our hypothesis, bacterial lectins play an important role in the organotropy of infectious diseases which is analogous to the metastasis of tumor cells. As a model for proving this, we investigated the specific lectin of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which has N-acetyl-D-glucosamine/D-galactose (GlcNAc-Gal) specificity. In vitro, after incubation with Streptococcus pneumoniae, cryotome sections of various organs from Balb/c-mice showed remarkable quantitative differences of bacterial adhesion to the organ cells. Whereas lungs and meninges were closely settled with bacteria, attachment to other organs (e.g. liver, spleen, brain) was lacking. In vitro lectin-blocking by GlcNAc completely prevented the adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to lungs and meninges. Other non-related carbohydrates (e.g. D-mannose, D-xylose) showed no effect. During in vivo experiments with Balb/c-mice, intratracheal application of Streptococcus pneumoniae led to a diffuse settlement of the lung. However, bacterial lectin-blocking with intratracheal GlcNAc administration completely inhibited adhesion to the organ cells of the lung. Therefore blocking of bacterial adhesins with competitive specific monosaccharides can completely prevent bacterial adhesion processes, a fact, which opens therapeutical aspects.

Dog tracheal epithelial cells in culture synthesize sulfated macromolecular glycoconjugates and release them from the cell surface upon exposure to extracellular proteinases

To determine whether glycoconjugates can be released into airways by surface epithelial cells that do not contain secretory granules and, if so, whether extracellular proteinases can affect this release, we studied dog tracheal epithelial cells after 8-10 days in culture. Ultrastructurally, these cells showed an extensive cell surface coat and no secretory granules. Cells were pulse labeled with radioactive sulfate (Na2 35SO4, 50 microCi/ml/24 h) and washed free of the unbound label. Release of sulfated products was then measured at 20-min intervals under basal conditions and again after 20 min of incubation with various extracellular proteinase. We found that these cells synthesized sulfated products and released them spontaneously and continuously into the medium. In addition, trypsin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase, thermolysin, Staphylococcus aureus proteinase, mast cell chymase, plasmin, and kallikrein (each at 10(-7) M except plasmin, at 5 X 10(-6) M) increased the release of sulfated products to 77-667% over baseline release (p less than 0.01, n = 5 dogs for each); preliminary results showed that human neutrophil elastase was also very potent. The sulfated products released by trypsin had an apparent molecular weight of greater than or equal to 10(6) da as determined by gel filtration on Sepharose Cl-4B. Over 50% of these 35S-labeled products were digested to low-molecular-weight products (500-2000 da) upon incubation with endo-beta-galactosidase or with keratanase, suggesting that they are glycoconjugates containing poly(N-acetyllactosamine)-type carbohydrate chains. Decrease in cell staining by lectins specific for poly(N-acetyllactosamine), which accompanied the release of glycoconjugates, indicates that these sulfated glycoconjugates were released by proteinases from the apical cell surface. We conclude that cultured tracheal epithelial cells synthesize and transport sulfated macromolecular glycoconjugates to apical cell surfaces. These glycoconjugates are released from cell surfaces when exposed to extracellular proteinases. We therefore suggest that macromolecular glycoconjugates in airway secretions can originate not only from secretory granules but also from epithelial cell surfaces during airway inflammation.

Structures of the asparagine-linked sugar chains of laminin

This investigation describes the isolation and characterization of oligosaccharides of the basement membrane glycoprotein, laminin. Pronase-released glycopeptides of isolated laminin, from a mouse Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm tumor, were fractionated using a combination of gel permeation chromatography and Con A-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The glycopeptides were analyzed for sugar linkage patterns by methylation analysis. Glycopeptides and hydrazine-released oligosaccharides were further analyzed using endo-beta-galactosidase, endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H and specific exoglycosidases in conjunction with calibrated gel permeation chromatography. Based on these experiments, murine tumor laminin was shown to contain asparagine-linked oligosaccharides with the following structures: bi-, tri- and tetraantennary complex-type oligosaccharides; polylactosaminyl side chains containing Gal(beta 1----4)GlcNAc(beta 1----3) repeating units attached to the trimannose core portion of the bi-, tri- and tetraantennary complex-type oligosaccharides; unusual complex-type oligosaccharides terminated at the nonreducing end with sialic acid, alpha-galactose, beta-galactose and beta-N-acetylglucosamine; alpha-galactosyl residues linked to N-acetyllactosamine sequences; high-mannose-type oligosaccharides. These results, in conjunction with analytical data, indicate that most of the carbohydrate of this laminin is N-linked to asparagine and that there are about 43 such N-linked oligosaccharides per laminin molecule.

Tracheobronchial mucin receptor for Pseudomonas aeruginosa: predominance of amino sugars in binding sites

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common respiratory tract colonizer and pathogen, adheres to injured tracheal cells and to tracheobronchial mucin. These phenomena suggest that there are specific receptors for this organism in the respiratory tract. The receptor on injured tracheal cells contains n-acetylneuraminic acid as the principal sugar, but the structure of the receptor in mucin has not been described. Using a microtiter plate assay to study bacterial adherence to mucin, we have partially characterized the mucin receptor for P. aeruginosa. The receptor for both nonmucoid and mucoid strains is sensitive to periodate oxidation, suggesting that it is carbohydrate in nature, and the amino sugars n-acetylglucosamine and n-acetylneuraminic acid inhibited the adherence of both types of strains. Nonmucoid strains were more sensitive to inhibition by n-acetylneuraminic acid than to inhibition by n-acetylglucosamine, but the mucoid strains varied in their sensitivities to inhibition by each amino sugar. Preincubation of mucin with heat-inactivated influenza A virus (which binds to neuraminic acid) significantly reduced the adherence of P. aeruginosa. Treatment of mucin with Clostridium perfringens neuraminidase also reduced bacterial adherence significantly. Treatment of mucin with pronase did not affect adherence. Our results suggest that n-acetylglucosamine and n-acetylneuraminic acid are important constituents of the binding sites for P. aeruginosa on human tracheobronchial mucin.

Defence of mucous membranes by antibodies, receptor analogues and non-specific host factors

Most infections reach man via the mucosal membranes, and more than half of the lymphoid system is found in connection with mucosae. The major antibodies found on mucous membranes are secretory IgA, which function primarily by binding microorganisms and thereby preventing their contact with the host tissues. The optimal mode of immunization to obtain a secretory IgA response is not well defined. Repeated mucosal exposure with antigen may result in oral tolerance, with decreasing circulating antibodies but a remaining secretory IgA response. The secretory IgA response is usually short-lived and can be difficult to boost. IgM as well as IgG antibodies may add to host defence at the mucosal level, but when engaged, they usually induce inflammation in host tissues. Analogues to bacterial receptors on mucosal epithelium may be present in exocrine secretions such as human milk. During an attack on the host, it is possible that such receptor analogues may aid in the prevention of attachment of bacteria to mucous membranes used as an initial site. A number of non-specific host factors support mucosal defence. One of them is lactoferrin. Lactoferrin deficiency seems to result in recurrent bacterial infections, suggesting its importance in normal host defence.

Species differences in the expression of carbohydrate differentiation antigens on mammalian blood cells revealed by immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies

Following recent observations using monoclonal antibodies that carbohydrate structures behave as differentiation antigens of man and mouse, we have made a preliminary survey of the expression of 8 monoclonal antibody-defined carbohydrate antigens on blood cell smears of man, baboon, mouse, rat, rabbit, pig, and dog. There are considerable species differences in the patterns of antigen expression. However, certain generalizations can be made as follows: the i and I antigens, associated with linear and branched carbohydrate chains consisting of repeating N-acetyl-lactosamine sequences (Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc, termed Type-2 backbone sequences) are widely distributed among granulocytes and lymphocytes of all the species studied, and on erythrocytes, monocytes, and platelets of some of them. Substantial amounts of Type-1 backbone sequences (Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc) may occur on rabbit lymphocytes. The N-acetylneuraminic acid-containing antigens, Pr2 and Gd, are also expressed to varying degrees on blood cells. On the other hand, antigens based on mono- and difucosylated N-acetyllactosamine, termed SSEA-1 (or X-hapten) and C14 (or Y-hapten) are predominantly granulocyte/monocyte-associated antigens. The former antigen is expressed in overt form only on untreated human granulocytes but occurs in cryptic state, masked by sialic acid, on human monocytes, and on the granulocytes and monocytes of baboon, rabbit, and dog but not on those of mouse, rat, and pig. The latter antigen is expressed on human granulocytes and on neuraminidase-treated monocytes and granulocytes of dog. Lymphocytes of dog are unusual in their expression of C14 antigen, in cryptic state, masked by sialic acid residues. Although the physiological roles of these various carbohydrate structures, in vivo, are not yet known, they seem excellent candidates as determinants of species and cell-type differences in susceptibilities to infective agents.

Attachment of Streptococcus pneumoniae to human pharyngeal epithelial cells in vitro--mechanism of binding

To colonize mucosal surfaces and to invade underlying tissues, bacteria need to bind to components of the mucosa. Unattached bacteria are transported away from the surface with the fluid flow. By binding to the nasopharyngeal mucosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae causing otitis media may persist at the site of infection. High binding capacity of the bacterium and increased receptivity of the epithelial cells for attaching bacteria may both contribute to the susceptibility of patients prone to otitis. Thus, epithelial cells from children with frequent episodes of otitis bind attaching bacteria more readily than do cells from age-matched controls. The binding mechanism probably involves bacterial surface proteins and epithelial cell surface glycoconjugate receptors. Evidence is presented that phosphorylcholine, a component of the bacterial surface, as well as epithelial cell receptor analogues, that is, natural or synthetic saccharides analogous to the lactoneoseries of glycolipids, inhibits pneumococcal attachment. Inhibition of bacterial binding in vivo may be a new approach to prophylaxis against otitis media.

Defence of mucous membranes by antibodies, receptor analogues and non-specific host factors

Most infections reach man via the mucosal membranes, and more than half of the lymphoid system is found in connection with mucosae. The major antibodies found on mucous membranes are secretory IgA, which function primarily by binding microorganisms and thereby preventing their contact with the host tissues. The optimal mode of immunization to obtain a secretory IgA response is not well defined. Repeated mucosal exposure with antigen may result in oral tolerance, with decreasing circulating antibodies but a remaining secretory IgA response. The secretory IgA response is usually short-lived and can be difficult to boost. IgM as well as IgG antibodies may add to host defence at the mucosal level, but when engaged, they usually induce inflammation in host tissues. Analogues to bacterial receptors on mucosal epithelium may be present in exocrine secretions such as human milk. During an attack on the host, it is possible that such receptor analogues may aid in the prevention of attachment of bacteria to mucous membranes used as an initial site. A number of non-specific host factors support mucosal defence. One of them is lactoferrin. Lactoferrin deficiency seems to result in recurrent bacterial infections, suggesting its importance in normal host defence.