Transendothelial migration of the Lyme disease spirochete involves spirochete internalization as an intermediate step through a transcellular pathway that involves Cdc42 and Rac1.

ABSTRACT: Despite its importance in pathogenesis, the hematogenous dissemination pathway of Borrelia burgdorferi is still largely uncharacterized. To probe the molecular details of transendothelial migration more easily, we studied this process using cultured primary or telomerase-immortalized human microvascular endothelial cells in a medium that maintains both the human cells and the spirochetes. In B. burgdorferi-infected monolayers, we observed ~55% of wild-type spirochetes crossing the monolayer. Microscopic characterization revealed entrance points across the cellular surface rather than at cellular junctions, supporting a transcellular route. In support of this pathway, locking the endothelial junctions using a vascular endothelial protein tyrosine phosphatase (VE-PTP) inhibitor

SUBMITTER: Alvarez-Olmedo D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11792520 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature