Antibacterial activity of bladder surface mucin duplicated by exogenous glycosaminoglycan (heparin)

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Abstract
The transitional cells lining the [rabbit] urinary bladder are capable of producing glycosaminoglycan (GAG). Use of a quantitative in vivo method of measuring bacterial [Escherichia coli] adherence demonstrated that bacterial adherence to the mucosal cells is diminished in the presence of this GAG, rises when it is removed (by acid) and returns to normal when the GAG is resynthesized (in less than 24 h). This mucin layer could be removed (with a corresponding rise in bacterial adherence) and addition of exogenous GAG to the bladder prevented the expected rise in bacterial adherence. The manner by which heparin prevents the rise in adherence seen when the mucin is removed was analyzed. Pre-treatment of bacteria with heparin had no effect on adherence, whereas pre-treatment of the bladder with heparin inhibited adherence. To corroborate that the heparin was coating the transitional cells, [3H]heparin was added to bladders after removal of mucin. Autoradiography revealed the heparin to be adherent to the surface of the transitional cells.