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. 1992 Dec;60(12):5197–5203. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.12.5197-5203.1992

T-cell-independent stimulation of immunoglobulin secretion in resting human B lymphocytes by the mannose-specific adhesin of Escherichia coli type 1 fimbriae.

S Ponniah 1, S N Abraham 1, R O Endres 1
PMCID: PMC258297  PMID: 1360450

Abstract

Purified Escherichia coli type 1 fimbriae have been shown previously to stimulate T-cell-independent proliferation of human B lymphocytes. The response is mediated by the mannose-specific, lectin-like adhesin protein FimH. Here we show that type 1 fimbriae also stimulate immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion by B cells. The response was maximal at three days of culture and consisted predominantly of the IgM isotype. It was independent of serum components, T lymphocytes, monocytes, and natural killer cells. Highly purified resting B cells were induced to proliferate and secrete Ig in response to the fimbriae. The role of FimH in the response was shown by the failure of FimH- type 1 fimbriae to stimulate and by inhibition of the response with alpha-methyl mannoside. In light of the fact that carbohydrate-binding adhesins have been found on a wide variety of microorganisms, these studies suggest the possibility that responses of other cell types to other microbial adhesins will be discovered.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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