FIG. 3.

Analysis of the effects of various gonococcal OM components on the expression of bfl-1. (A) UECs received medium alone (Uninfected) or were infected for 4 h with either wild-type N. gonorrhoeae strain FA1090 (WT), a FA1090 mutant lacking expression of the opacity-associated proteins (Δopa), or a FA1090 mutant lacking pili (Δpil). RT-PCR revealed the increased expression of bfl-1 (panel 2) in UECs infected with wild-type, Δopa, or Δpil gonococci, indicating that Opa and pili are not required to elicit the increase in host antiapoptotic gene expression. No change in expression was observed in the 18S rRNA control (panel 1). (B) UECs received medium alone (Untreated) or were treated for 4 h with either untreated gonococcal LOS diluted directly into culture medium [1291 LOS (in solution)] or LOS treated with 50 mM NaOH (NaOH-LOS). RT-PCR analysis of bfl-1 (panel 2) and 18S rRNA gene (panel 1) was performed. C) UECs were left untreated or treated for 4 h with magnetic beads coated with 1, 10, or 100 μg of purified gonococcal LOS [1291 LOS (+beads)] per ml. RT-PCR demonstrated that 18S rRNA gene (panel 1) and bfl-1 (panel 2) expression is not altered in UECs treated with gonococcal LOS.