Host defense within the urinary tract. II. Signal transducing events activate the uroepithelial defense.

It has been shown previously that the interaction between uroepithelial cells (UEC) from healthy donors and adherent. Escherichia coli suppresses bacterial growth in vitro. The following study was performed to investigate the nature of membrane signal transduction mechanisms involved in this process. UEC/E. coli cocultures were established in the presence of substances known to modulate transmembranous signals. Inhibition of calcium flux, either by calcium channel-blocking substances or by a calmodulin antagonist, depressed the antibacterial UEC function of "healthy" UEC. In contrast, receptor/ligand-induced stimulation of G-proteins, activation of the adenylate cyclase, and the increase of intracellular cyclic AMP levels by cytoplasmatic phosphodiesterase did not increase the antibacterial capacity of healthy UEC. However, the antibacterial function of defense-deficient UEC from patients with recurrent idiopathic urinary tract infection could be reconstituted by this treatment to almost normal levels. In conclusion, the antibacterial UEC defense function is activated by transmembranous signals from bacteria attached to the host cell surface. Activation involves the adenylate cyclase pathway. Activation of the phosphoinositol pathway may contribute to intracellular calcium fluxes.