Modeling Persistent Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection of Human Airway Epithelium

SUMMARY Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a human respiratory tract pathogen causing acute and chronic airway disease states that can include long‐term carriage and extra‐pulmonary spread. The mechanisms of persistence and migration beyond the conducting airways, however, remain poorly understood. We previously described an acute exposure model using normal human bronchial epithelium (NHBE) in air‐liquid interface culture, showing that M. pneumoniae gliding motility is essential for initial colonization and subsequent spread, including localization to epithelial cell junctions. We extended those observations here, characterizing M. pneumoniae infection of NHBE for up to four weeks. Colonization of the apical surface was followed by pericellular invasion of the basolateral compartment and migration across the underlying transwell membrane. Despite fluctuations in transepithelial electrical resistance and increased NHBE cell desquamation, barrier function remained largely intact. Desquamation was accompanied by epithelial remodeling that included cytoskeletal reorganization and development of deep furrows in the epithelium. Finally, M. pneumoniae strains S1 and M129 differed with respect to invasion and histopathology, consistent with contrasting virulence in experimentally infected mice. In summary, this study reports pericellular invasion, NHBE cytoskeletal reorganization, and tissue remodeling with persistent infection in a human airway epithelium model, providing clear insight...
Source: Cellular Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research