Presence of the Dr receptor in normal human tissues and its possible role in the pathogenesis of ascending urinary tract infection

The Dr hemagglutinin of uropathogenic Escherichia coli recognizes the Dr^a blood group antigen, a component of the IFC or Cromer-related blood group complex. The present report used the Dr hemagglutinin to demonstrate location of the Dr receptor in selected human tissues and to evaluate the possible use of this lectin as a tissue marker recognizing sites sensitive for bacterial colonization. It was found that the Dr receptor was expressed in different parts of the digestive, urinary, genital, and respiratory tracts, and skin. Intense staining by Dr hemagglutinin was shown in colonic, bronchial, and endometrial glands, and skin eccrine sweat glands. Structures of the urinary tract showing strong fluorescence were renal tubular basement membrane, Bowmans' capsule, and transitional epithelium. The role of Dr^a antigen as receptor for adhesion for Dr-positive E. coli in ascending colonization of urinary tract and the possible importance of Dr^a in human pathology is discussed.