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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2007; 13(43): 5731-5735
Published online Nov 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i43.5731
Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infects and multiplies in enteric glial cells
Leonardo A Sechi, Anne Ruehl, Niyaz Ahmed, Donatella Usai, Daniela Paccagnini, Giovanna E Felis, Stefania Zanetti
Leonardo A Sechi, Donatella Usai, Daniela Paccagnini, Giovanna E Felis, Stefania Zanetti, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology Section, University of Sassari, Viale S Pietro 43/B, Sassari 07100, Italy
Anne Ruehl, Department of Human Biology, Technical University of Munich, Hochfeldweg 2, D-85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
Leonardo A Sechi, Niyaz Ahmed, Stefania Zanetti, International Society of Genetic and Evolutionary Microbiology, Working Group on Mycobacterial Disease, Sassari, Italy
Niyaz Ahmed, Pathogen Evolution Group, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Leonardo A Sechi, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sezione di Microbiologia Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli studi di Sassari, Viale S. Pietro 43/B, Sassari 07100, Italy. sechila@uniss.it
Telephone: +39-79-228303 Fax: +39-79-212345
Received: April 17, 2007
Revised: August 23, 2007
Accepted: October 8, 2007
Published online: November 21, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To establish the role of enteric glial cells during infection with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in Crohn’s disease.

METHODS: In order to establish the role of enteric glial cells during infection with M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in Crohn’s disease, Map adhesion experiments on enteric glial cells were performed as well as expression analysis of Map sigma factors during infection.

RESULTS: In this study, for the first time, we found a high affinity of MAP to enteric glial cells and we analyzed the expression of MAP sigma factors under different conditions of growth.

CONCLUSION: The fact that Map showed a high affinity to the glial cells raises concerns about the complicated etiology of the Crohn’s disease. Elucidation of the mechanisms whereby inflammation alters enteric neural control of gut functions may lead to novel treatments for Crohn’s disease.

Keywords: Mycobacterium avium subspecies Paratuberculosis, Enteric glial cells, Inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn’s disease, Sigma factors expression