Pyelonephritic Escherichia coli expressing P fimbriae decrease immune response of the mouse kidney

James C. Rice, Tao Peng, Jeff S. Spence, Hui Qun Wang, Randall M. Goldblum, Blaise Corthésy, Bogdan J. Nowicki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

P fimbriae are proteinaceous appendages on the surface of Escherichia coli bacteria that mediate adherence to uroepithelial cells. E. coli that express P fimbriae account for the majority of ascending urinary tract infections in women with normal urinary tracts. The hypothesis that P fimbriae on uropathic E. coli attach to renal epithelia and may regulate the immune response to establish infection was investigated. The polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR), produced by renal epithelia, transports IgA into the urinary space. Kidney pIgR and urine IgA levels were analyzed in a mouse model of ascending pyelonephritis, using E. coli with (P+) and without (P-) P fimbriae, to determine whether P(+) E. coli regulate epithelial pIgR expression and IgA transport into the urine. (P+) E. coli establish infection and persist to a greater amount than P(-) E. coli. P(+)-infected mice downregulate pIgR mRNA and protein levels compared with P(-)-infected or PBS controls at ≥48 h. The decrease in pIgR was associated with decreased urinary IgA levels in the P(+)-infected group at 48 h. pIgR mRNA and protein also decline in P(+) E. coli-infected LPS-hyporesponsive mice. These studies identify a novel virulence mechanism of E. coli that express P fimbriae. It is proposed that P fimbriae decrease pIgR expression in the kidney and consequently decrease IgA transport into the urinary space. This may explain, in part, how E. coli that bear P fimbriae exploit the immune system of human hosts to establish ascending pyelonephritis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3583-3591
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology
Volume16
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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