Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG conditioned medium prevents E. coli meningitis by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB pathway / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG conditioned medium(LGG-CM)has preventive effect against E. coli K1-induced neuropathogenicity in vitro by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model was constructed using human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). The effect of LGG-CM on E. coli-actived NF-κB signaling pathway was assayed using Western blotting. Invasion assay and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) transmigration assay were performed to explore whether LGG-CM could inhibit E. coli invasion and PMN transmigration across the BBB in vitro. The expressions of ZO-1 and CD44 were detected using Western blotting and immunofluorescence. The changes of trans-epithelial electric resistance (TEER) and bacterial translocation were determined to evaluate the BBB permeability.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pre-treament with LGG-CM inhibited E. coli-activated NF-κB signaling pathway in HBMECs and decreased the invasion of E. coli K1 and transmigration of PMN. Western blotting showed that LGG-CM could alleviate E. coli-induced up-regulation of CD44 and down-regulation of ZO-1 expressions in HBMECs. In addition, pre-treatment with LGG-CM alleviated E. coli K1-induced reduction of TEER and suppressed bacterial translocation across the BBB in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LGG-CM can block E. coli-induced activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and thereby prevents E. coli K1-induced neuropathogenicity by decreasing E. coli K1 invasion rates and PMN transmigration.</p>

Role of CD44 in monocyte transmigration across Cryptococcus neoformans-infected blood-brain barrier in vitro / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the role of CD44 in monocyte adhesion to human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) and monocyte migration across an in vitro model of blood-brain barrier (BBB) infected by Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An in vitro blood-brain barrier model was constructed using a transwell chamber covered with a HBMEC monolayer. The wild-type strain of Cn B4500FO2, TYCC645#32 strain with CPS1 gene deletion and PCIP strain with CPS1 complementation were chosen to infect the monolayer HBMECs. THP-1 cells were added to the upper chamber of transwell, and the relative migration rate was determined by counting the number of the cells entering the lower chambers. The inhibitory effects of anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody and the CD44 inhibitor bikunin were examined on THP-1 binding to and migration across HBMECs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Cn infection of the HBMECs caused markedly enhanced THP-1 cell adhesion and migration across the monolyers (P<0.01) dependent on Cn concentration and exposure time. Addition of anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody and bikunin significantly lowered THP-1 adhesion and migration rates in the BBB model with Cn-infected HBMECs (P<0.01) with a dose dependence of the antibody (within 0-1 µg) and inhibitor (within 0-20 nmol/L). Both THP-1 adhesion rate and migration rate were lowered in the BBB model infected with CPS1 gene-deleted Cn but increased in the model infected with the complemented strain compared with those in the wild-type strain-infected model.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In the in vitro BBB model, CD44 expressed on HBMECs may play an essential role in monocyte adhesion to and migration across the BBB. The capsular hyaluronic acid may mediate Cn-induced monocyte adhesion and migration.</p>

Purification of E. coli invasin IbeA-binding protein in intestinal epithelial cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To purify IbeA-binding protein from intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Recombinant IbeA was purified, and 1, 5, and 10 microg/ml His-IbeA and bovine serum albumin (control) were preincubated with confluent Caco-2 monolayer for 30 min at 4degrees celsius;. Gentamicin protection assay was used to test the invasion of E. coli K1 pathogenic isolate E44 in Caco-2 cells. The binding proteins were purified from Caco-2 by IbeA-Cu(2+) sepharose affinity chromatography, and validated by Far-Western blotting. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the binding protein was determined using Edman assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>E44 invasion in Caco-2 cells was blocked by the recombinant IbeA in a dose-dependent manner. Two binding bands were obtained with His pull-down, and the binding specificity was demonstrated by Far-Western blotting. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of IBP200 was MASITKLP with an isoelectric point of about 5.0.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Two novel Caco-2 proteins interacting with IbeA of E. coli have been purified and identified.</p>