Expression pattern of CEA-related cell adhesion molecules in human pulmonary epithelia in relation to inflammatory stimuli and to the interaction with Moraxella catarrhalis

Introduction: CEACAM1 is an important human receptor for host-pathogen interaction. The pulmonary pathogen Moraxella catarrhalis has developed the specific cell surface protein UspA1 to mediated adhesion to CEACAM1. Ligation of CEACAM1 is leading to a reduction of the TLR2-triggered immune response. Besides CEACAM1, expression of CEACAM5, 6 and 7 has been described in epithelial cells derived from the gastrointestinal tract. However, regulation and expression pattern of CEACAMs in the human pulmonary tract have never been studied in detail. The aim of the study presented was to investigate the regulation and exp…