ROLE OF TYPE-1 FIMBRIAE IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF CHRONIC PYELONEPHRITISIN RELATION TO REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES

The role of type-1 fimbriae in the pathogenesis of chronic pyelonephri tis was studied for two Escherichia coli strains, Although both strain s produced a similar total oxidative burst of chemiluminescence in mac rophages from uninfected mice, the extracellular oxidative burst was g reater with the non-fimbriate mutant E. coli BH-5 than its type-1 fimb riate parent E. coli 31-B. Moreover, macrophages from mice infected wi th the non-fimbriate mutant gave a much greater oxidative burst when s timulated with latex particles than that given by macrophages from mic e infected with the type-1 fimbriate parent. These results correlated with the degree of renal inflammation and scarring as measured by malo ndialdehyde formation. Hence, the role of type-1 fimbriae in the patho genesis of chronic UTI although documented does not appear to be signi ficant.