VITRONECTIN-DEPENDENT INVASION OF EPITHELIAL-CELLS BY NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE INVOLVES ALPHA(V) INTEGRIN RECEPTORS

Binding of vitronectin (VN) to Neisseria gonorrhoeae expressing the he paran sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) specific Opa(50) protein n as recent ly shown to trigger bacterial internalization into distinct epithelial cell lines. We have investigated the role of VN-binding integrin rece ptors and protein kinase C (PKC) in VN-triggered bacterial uptake. Blo cking integrin function by RGDS peptides or by antibodies specific to alpha(v) beta(5) or alpha(v) beta(3) resulted in an abrogation of VN-t riggerad bacterial internalization. Moreover, inhibitors of PKC were f ound to block VN-triggered uptake. The essential role of alpha(v) inte grins and the presumable involvement of PKC in VN-triggered gonococcal uptake are discussed. (C) 1998 Federation of European Biochemical Soc ieties.