[Investigation of the bactericidal effect of urinary epithelial cells against different doses of Escherichia coli].

Epithelial cells take part in the stimulation of immune system during the conversion of nonspecific immune response to the adaptive one in the mucosal immune system. Epithelial cells also have critical roles in designating immune homeostasis towards immune regulation or tolerance. Its response type is determined according to the dose and structure of the antigen and the way it is presented. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the response of human urinary epithelial cells to different doses of Escherichia coli K12 by means of their bactericidal effect. Urine was collected from 16 healthy volunteers and urinary epithelial cells were prepared. The cells (effector) were stimulated with bacteria (target) in microplates for one hour with different effector/target cell ratios. At the end of the incubation period, the bactericidal effects were calculated and compared with microorganism controls. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. Urinary epithelial cells which were stimulated by E. coli K12 showed dose dependent bactericidal effect, calculated mean value for bactericidal effects were 60.7% at the 1/100.000 effector/target cell ratio and 11.3% 1/1.000.000 effector/target cell ratio, indicating that the bactericidal effect was dose dependent.