Differential secretion of interleukin-8 by human epithelial cell lines upon entry of virulent or nonvirulent Yersinia enterocolitica

Abstract

Epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa are among the first cells encountered by invasive pathogens. Bacterial invasion of the mucosa gives rise to an inflammatory response, characterized by the influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The chemotactic stimulus responsible for this accumulation is unknown, but several in vitro studies have demonstrated that epithelial cells secrete the chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8), a potent chemoattractant of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, upon bacterial entry. In this study we analyzed the secretion of IL-8 by human intestinal (T84) and cervical (HeLa) epithelial cell lines in response to infection with the enteric pathogen Yersinia enterocolitica. IL-8 wa..