Priming of Polymorphonuclear Neutrophilic Leukocyte Oxidative Activity by Type 1 Pili from Escherichia coli

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Abstract
Preincubation of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes with free whole type 1 pili derived from Escherichia colior with subunits of type 1 pili significantly augmented subsequent stimulation of cellular oxygen uptake by formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, concanavalin A, opsonized zymosan, or latex particles coated with wholetype 1 pili. No such priming of leukocyteactivation occurred if phorbol myristate acetate was used as a stimulant or if bovine serum albumin was substituted for the type 1 pili preparations. When free in solution, neither pili preparation directly stimulated cellular oxidative metabolism. Type 1 pili-mediated priming was not inhibited by polymyxin B, by mannose congeners,or by boiling the pili preparations but was prevented by trypsinization of the pili. This priming property indicates a further means by which type 1 pili may modulate the inflammatory response of the host and provides another tool that can be used to dissect the relationship between the structure and function of type 1pili and to characterize leukocyte receptors for these pili.