Identification of phosphocholine-containing glycoglycerolipids purified from Mycoplasma fermentans-infected human helper T-cell culture as components of M. fermentans.

Previously, we have reported the occurrence of novel phosphocholine-containing glycoglycerolipids (GGPLs: GGPL-I and GGPL-III) in human helper T-cell (MT-4 cell line) (Mustuda et al, Glycoconjugate J. 10:340). However, the GGPLs disappeared from the MT-4 after treatment with an antimycoplasma agent. This disappearance suggested the involvement of microorganisms in the GGPL expression. In this paper, we show that the novel lipids are components of Mycoplasma fermentans itself. The supernatant fluid of the antimycoplasma agent-untreated Mt-4 cell culture produced mycoplasma-like colonies on PPLO agar plates, and PCR and immunological methods revealed the presence of M. fermentans. GGPLs were expressed again in the treated Mt-4 cells after infection with the isolated M. fermentans. The isolated M. fermentans had glycoglycerolipids corresponding to GGPL-I and GGPL-III. Thin-layer chromatography-mass spectrometry and immunological analyses showed that these glycoglycerolipid which were derived from the isolated M. fermentans were identical with GGPL-I and GGPL-III previously obtained. This is the first report that shows mycoplasma has phosphocholine-containing glycoglycerolipids.