PHAGOCYTOSIS OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI BACTERIA DIFFERING IN THE HEPARAN-SULFATE BINDING BY HUMAN POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES

Heparan sulfate binding proteins (HSBPs) of Helicobacter pylori facili tate bacterial phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN s). H. pylori 25 strain which demonstrates a strong heparan sulfate bi nding activity was found to be attached to/ingested by PMNs in greater numbers than H. pylori strain 17874 bacteria which lacked this activi ty. Moreover, heparin inhibited the uptake of cells of H. pylori strai n 25 but not of cells of H. pylori strain 17874 by PMNs.