Entry of Listeria monocytogenes in mammalian epithelial cells: an updated view

Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2012 Nov 1;2(11):a010009. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a010009.

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial pathogen that promotes its internalization into host epithelial cells. Interaction between the bacterial surface molecules InlA and InlB and their cellular receptors E-cadherin and Met, respectively, triggers the recruitment of endocytic effectors, the subversion of the phosphoinositide metabolism, and the remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton that lead to bacterial engulfment. Additional bacterial surface and secreted virulence factors also contribute to entry, albeit to a lesser extent. Here we review the increasing number of signaling effectors that are reported as being subverted by L. monocytogenes during invasion of cultured cell lines. We also update the current knowledge of the early steps of in vivo cellular infection, which, as shown recently, challenges previous concepts generated from in vitro data.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Adhesion
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Clathrin / metabolism
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Endocytosis
  • Epithelial Cells / microbiology*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions*
  • Humans
  • Listeria monocytogenes / metabolism
  • Listeria monocytogenes / pathogenicity
  • Listeria monocytogenes / physiology*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cadherins
  • Clathrin
  • Membrane Proteins
  • inlB protein, Listeria monocytogenes
  • internalin protein, Bacteria
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met