The mechanisms by which Mycobacterium leprae invades the human host are presently unknown. We investigated the ability of M. leprae to bind to human RPMI 2650 cells, a human nasal septal epithelial cell line, using both microscopic observation and an ELISA technique. The results demonstrated that M. leprae adheres to nasal cells after binding to soluble fibronectin. Furthermore, it was observed that M. leprae could bind to the beta 1 chain of the integrins in the absence of serum or mucus. These results demonstrated that M. leprae uses fibronectin and fibronectin receptors on the surface of epithelial cells to bind and possibly invade the nasal epithelial cells.
BT - Clinical immunology and immunopathology C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8242899?dopt=Abstract DA - 1993 Dec DO - 10.1006/clin.1993.1179 IS - 3 J2 - Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. LA - eng N2 -The mechanisms by which Mycobacterium leprae invades the human host are presently unknown. We investigated the ability of M. leprae to bind to human RPMI 2650 cells, a human nasal septal epithelial cell line, using both microscopic observation and an ELISA technique. The results demonstrated that M. leprae adheres to nasal cells after binding to soluble fibronectin. Furthermore, it was observed that M. leprae could bind to the beta 1 chain of the integrins in the absence of serum or mucus. These results demonstrated that M. leprae uses fibronectin and fibronectin receptors on the surface of epithelial cells to bind and possibly invade the nasal epithelial cells.
PY - 1993 SP - 266 EP - 71 T2 - Clinical immunology and immunopathology TI - Roles of soluble fibronectin and beta 1 integrin receptors in the binding of Mycobacterium leprae to nasal epithelial cells. VL - 69 SN - 0090-1229 ER -