The long polar fimbriae of STEC 0157:H7 induce expression of pro-inflammatory markers by intestinal epithelial cells

Infection with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) 0157:H7 is characterized by acute inflammation of the colonic mucosa. STEC 0157:H7 contains two non-identical loci encoding long polar flmbriae (Lpf), which play a role in the STEC colonization of the intestinal epithelial cells. However, no information is available regarding the involvement of Lpf in the STEC-induced host inflammatory response. Hence, in this study we assess the role of Lpf as an inducer of inflammation on intestinal epithelial cells. Secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to STEC wild type and lpfisogenic mutants was evaluated on intestinal T84 cells. Of the 27 cytokines assayed, IL-6, IL-8, IL-15, FGF, GM-CSF and IP-10 were significantly reduced, when compared to the wild-type strain, in the lpfA1 lpfA2 double mutant. Further, the host intracellular signaling pathways activated in response to Lpf were determined by using an array containing genes representative of 18 different signal transduction pathways. The analysis indicated that the NF-kappa B pathway is activated in response to Lpf-expressing STEC. Therefore, our study supports the role of Lpf as a STEC factor mediating intestinal inflammation. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.