Back to Search
Start Over
The effects of S-carboxymethylcysteine and N-acetylcysteine on the adherence of Moraxella catarrhalis to human pharyngeal epithelial cells.
- Source :
-
Microbiology and immunology [Microbiol Immunol] 1999; Vol. 43 (2), pp. 107-13. - Publication Year :
- 1999
-
Abstract
- We investigated the effects of two mucoregulating drugs, S-carboxymethylcysteine (S-CMC) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), on the attachment of Moraxella catarrhalis (M. catarrhalis) to pharyngeal epithelial cells. The attachment of M. catarrhalis decreased (33-57%) significantly (P<0.01) in a dose-dependent manner in cells treated with mucoregulating drugs as compared to the control. There was a significant (P<0.01) decrease (35-45%) in the attachment of M. catarrhalis to pharyngeal cells after oral administration of S-CMC. By electron microscopic observation, it was found that there was a fine, granular, electron-dense, ruthenium red-positive layer on the surface of pharyngeal epithelial cells; this layer was absent on cell surfaces treated with mucoregulating drugs. Possibly, this layer contained the portion of M. catarrhalis receptor which is responsible for the attachment of this bacteria to pharyngeal epithelial cells. From the above results, it may be concluded that one of the mechanisms of mucoregulating drugs to decrease the episode of respiratory infections in patients with chronic respiratory diseases is by inhibiting the attachment of bacteria to the upper respiratory tract.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Aged
Asthma pathology
Bronchiectasis pathology
Bronchitis pathology
Carbocysteine metabolism
Epithelial Cells drug effects
Epithelial Cells microbiology
Epithelial Cells ultrastructure
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Moraxella catarrhalis physiology
Pharynx cytology
Pulmonary Emphysema pathology
Sputum metabolism
Acetylcysteine pharmacology
Bacterial Adhesion drug effects
Carbocysteine pharmacology
Expectorants pharmacology
Moraxella catarrhalis drug effects
Pharynx microbiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0385-5600
- Volume :
- 43
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Microbiology and immunology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 10229264
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1348-0421.1999.tb02381.x