Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) have been shown previously to express Toll-like receptors and to respond to bacteria by translocating nuclear factor-kB from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. In this study,we show that OECs extended significantly more pseudopodia when they were exposed to Escherichia coli than in the absence of bacteria (p=0.019). Coimmunoprecipitation showed that E. coli binding to OECs was mediated by Toll-like receptor 4. Lyso-Tracker, a fluorescent probe that accumulates selectively in lysosomes, and staining for type 1 lysosomeassociated membrane proteins demonstrated that endocytosed FITC-conjugated E. coli were translocated to lysosomes. They appeared to be subsequently broken down, as shown by transmission electron microscopy. No obvious adherence to the membrane and less phagocytosis was observed when OECs were incubated with inert fluorescent microspheres. The ability of OECs to endocytose bacteria supports the notion that OECs play an innate immune function by protecting olfactory tissues from bacterial infection.
History
Publication title
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
Volume
65
Issue
17
Article number
17
Number
17
Pagination
2732-2739
ISSN
1420-682X
Department/School
Medicine, Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Publisher
Birkhauser Verlag
Publication status
Published
Rights statement
The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com
Repository Status
Open
Socio-economic Objectives
280111 Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences