THE ROLE OF HEPARAN SULFATE-BINDING ACTIVITY OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI BACTERIA IN THEIR ADHESION TO MURINE MACROPHAGES

The aim of this study was to determine the role of heparan sulphate (H S)-binding activity of Helicobacter pylori microbes in their adhesion to and ingestion by inflammatory peritoneal macrophages. Two H. pylori strains expressing sialic acid-specific haemagglutinins but differing in the expression of heparan sulphate binding capacity were chosen fo r investigation. The attachment to an ingestion by macrophages of the H. pylori bacteria were estimated by ELISA using anti-H. pylori antibo dies. The adhesion of both H. pylori strains could be inhibited by pre treatment of the bacteria with heparin (H), HS or fetuin, as well as b y preincubation of the macrophages with heparinase or neuraminidase. H owever, detailed analysis of the data on the inhibition of bacterial a dhesion to macrophages led to the conclusion that the attachment of H. pylori 25 bacteria, which expressed a high heparan sulphate binding, was mainly determined by HS-binding structures. In contrast, the adhes ion to macrophages of H. pylori bacteria 17874 microbes, which express ed a weak heparan sulphate binding, was more dependent on the exhibiti on of sialic acid-dependent haemagglutinins. The described variation i n H. pylori bacterial surface structures mediating their adhesion to m acrophages could suggest a similar variation in bacterial adhesion to stomach mucosa and maybe in the pathogenicity of H. pylori strains.