Attachment of Escherichia coli via mannose- or Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta-containing receptors to human colonic epithelial cells.

The role of bacterial adhesion for the maintenance of the large-intestinal microflora has not been established. In this study, colonic cells from the adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 or from surgical specimens were tested for the ability to bind Escherichia coli. The E. coli strains were manipulated by transformation or by mutagenesis to express either mannose-specific type 1 fimbriae (strains 506 MS and HU742) or Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta-specific P fimbriae (506 MR and HU824). Binding to HT-29 cells was seen with strains of either receptor specificity and was inhibited by alpha-methyl mannoside or globotetraosylceramide (GalNAc beta 1----3Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta 1----4Glc-ceramide), respectively. The Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta-specific strains interacted with a loosely surface-associated substance, which was sensitive to mechanical treatment and incubation at 37 degrees C, while the mannose-specific strains bound both directly to the cell and to the loosely associated substance. Isolated colonic epithelial cells bound the mannose-specific bacteria in high numbers, while the attachment of the Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta-specific strains depended on the elution method. Cells eluted sequentially with magnetic stirring were unable to bind the Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta-specific bacteria, while elution by a more gentle method resulted in binding of these strains to material loosely associated with the epithelial cells. Thus, the binding pattern of isolated colonic epithelial cells paralleled that of the HT-29 cell line. Conceivably, binding to mannose- and Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta-containing receptors could contribute to the maintenance of E. coli in the human large intestine.