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Streptococcus pneumoniae anchor to activated human cells by the receptor for platelet-activating factor

Nature volume 377, pages 435–438 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

THE Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis1. Although the invasive disease is severe, some 40% of individuals harbour the pneumococcus in the nasopharynx asymptomatically2. Here we investigate the molecular elements of the encounter between host and pathogen that distinguish these different outcomes. We show that inflammatory activation of human cells shifts the targeting of the pneumococcus to a new receptor, that for the G-protein-coupled platelet-activating factor (PAF). Only virulent pneumococci engage the PAF receptor. Attachment of the bacterial phosphoryl-choline to the PAF receptor enhanced adherence, which was coupled to invasion of endothelial, epithelial and PAF-receptor-transfected cells. This progression could be arrested in vitro and in vivo by PAF-receptor-specific antagonists, suggesting a possible approach to therapy.

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Author notes

  1. Elaine I. Tuomanen: To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Molecular Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller University, New York, New York, 10021-6399, USA

    Diana R. Cundell, Ilona Idanpaan-Heikkila & Elaine I. Tuomanen

  2. Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Hospital and Ina Sue Perlmutter Cystic Fibrosis Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA

    Norma P. Gerard & Craig Gerard

Authors
  1. Diana R. Cundell
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  2. Norma P. Gerard
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  3. Craig Gerard
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  4. Ilona Idanpaan-Heikkila
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  5. Elaine I. Tuomanen
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Cundell, D., Gerard, N., Gerard, C. et al. Streptococcus pneumoniae anchor to activated human cells by the receptor for platelet-activating factor. Nature 377, 435–438 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/377435a0

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