Binding of alpha 2-laminins by pathogenic and non-pathogenic mycobacteria and adherence to Schwann cells

The ability of Mycobacterium leprae to specifically bind alpha2-laminins of Schwann cells has been described recently as being an important property o f the leprosy bacillus, which could explain the neural tropism of M. leprae . Therefore, the extent of the expression of alpha2-laminin-binding propert ies among mycobacteria was investigated. In an ELISA-based assay, all three species of Mycobacterium tested (M. tuberculosis, M. chelonae and M. smegm atis) expressed laminin-binding capacity, suggesting that the ability to bi nd alpha2-laminins is conserved within the genus Mycobacterium. This report also demonstrated that not only M. leprae but all the mycobacterial specie s tested readily interacted with the ST88-14 cells, a human schwannoma cell line, and that the addition of soluble alpha2-laminins significantly incre ased their adherence to these cells. These results failed to demonstrate th e presence in M. leprae of a unique system based on alpha2-laminins for adh erence to Schwann cells.