Y. Mizunoe et al., EFFECT OF PILI OF SERRATIA-MARCESCENS ON SUPEROXIDE PRODUCTION AND PHAGOCYTOSIS OF HUMAN POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES, The Journal of urology, 154(3), 1995, pp. 1227-1230
Purpose: To determine the role played by superoxide in renal scar form
ation following renal infection. Materials and Methods: The piliation
of bacteria was assessed for its capacity to interact with human polym
orphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Two recombinant strains having either
MS or MR pili of Serratia marcescens were constructed. Results: The MS
-piliated strain stimulated superoxide production of PMNs twice as muc
h as the MR- or nonpiliated strains did. The MS-piliated strain was mo
re susceptible to phagocytosis than was the MR- or nonpiliated strain.
Conclusion: These data suggest that the MS-piliated strain stimulates
superoxide production of PMNs associated with phagocytosis, which lea
ds to tissue damage in infected organs.