Loss of epithelial barriers characterized by reduction of E-cadherin is a hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We investigated the effects of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) infections, associated with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, on the regulation of E-cadherin in host cells. NTHi infection decreased E-cadherin mRNA and protein-levels in lung epithelial cells. E-cadherin reduction was mediated by activation of the fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Slug. These data indicate that epithelial integrity and barrier function is disturbed by NTHi infection. Mainly, the destruction of cell-cell contacts is a prominent feature in NTHi infection.
- Kaufhold, I.
- Osbahr, S.
- Shima, K.
- Marwitz, S.
- Rohmann, K.
- Dromann, D.
- Goldmann, T.
- Dalhoff, K.
- Rupp, J.
Keywords
- A549 Cells/microbiology
- Blotting, Western
- Cadherins/*metabolism
- Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/metabolism
- Haemophilus Infections/*metabolism/microbiology
- *Haemophilus influenzae
- Humans
- Lung/*microbiology
- Microscopy, Fluorescence
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Respiratory Mucosa/*microbiology
- Zonula Occludens-1 Protein/metabolism
- Copd
- E-cadherin
- Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae
