Hepatocyte growth factor inhibits intrinsic antibacterial activity of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.

We investigated whether or not polarized renal epithelial cells produce antibacterial factors, which aid in host defense at the cell surface of renal epithelium. A model of polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells grown on filters was used to test for the presence of apically or basolaterally secreted factors on the growth of non-virulent (XL1-Blue) and uropathogenic (J96) strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli).