Mannose-sensitive stimulation of human leukocyte chemiluminescence by Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli organisms with mannose-sensitive adherence factors (adhesins) are known to associate with human peripheral leukocytes (WBCs) in vitro in the absence of serum. To determine whether the WBC respiratory burst is activated during the interaction with E. coli, WBC chemiluminescence was measured. E. coli with mannose-sensitive adhesins stimulated a sharp burst of chemiluminescence which peaked 15 to 30 min after the bacteria and WBCs were mixed. Stimulation of chemiluminescence could be abrogated by including 10 mM alpha-methyl-D-mannoside in the test suspension. The addition of alpha-methyl-D-mannoside up to 20 min after the E. coli and WBCs were combined caused a rapid decrease in chemiluminescence. E. coli stimulation of chemiluminescence could not be inhibited by pretreating the WBCs with purified type 1 pili (fimbriae). E. coli lacking mannose-sensitive adhesins failed to stimulate chemiluminescence. The results emphasize the importance of mannose-sensitive adhesins in the association of E. coli with WBCs and suggest that the E. coli-WBC interaction system may be a useful tool for studying the mechanisms involved in the activation of the respiratory burst during phagocytosis.