Escherichia coli binding to and invasion of brain microvascular endothelial cells derived from humans and rats of different ages

Escherichia coli meningitis commonly occurs in the neonatal period, but the basis of this age dependency is unclear. We have previously identified two types of E. coli-brain microvascular endothelial cell (BR IEC) interaction s contributing to E. coli traversal of the blood-brain barrier (i.e., bindi ng and invasion). The present study examined whether the age dependency off . call meningitis stemmed from differences in the capacities of neonatal an d adult BMECs to interact dth E. call. BMECs were isolated from rats of dif ferent ages (10 days, 20 days and 3 months) as well as from humans of diffe rent ages (fetuses, 4- to 7-year-old children, and a 35-year-old adult, and 60- to 85-year-old geriatrics). The bindings off. call to young and old ra t BMECs were similar, Also, the abilities of E. call to invade BMECs were s imilar for BMECs derived from young and old rats and from human fetuses, ch ildren, adults, and geriatrics. These findings suggest that the predominanc e of E. coli meningitis in neonates is not likely due to greater binding an d invasion capacities of newborn compared to adult BMECs.