title: Protection against membrane-mediated cytotoxicity by calcium and zinc.
abstract: Injection of S. aureus alpha toxin or ultraviolet-inactivated Sendai virus into the mammary gland of lactating mice leads to cytopathic changes in the alveolar cells compatible with a breakdown of their permeability barrier. Simultaneous administration of Ca2+ or Zn2+ prevents such changes, as it does when added to alveolar cells in vitro. It is concluded that increased levels of Zn2+ (and under certain conditions of Ca2+) may exert a protective role that is clinically significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, England.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mahadevan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ndirika
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bashford
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasternak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005260:Female; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D010222:Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000494:pharmacology; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003603:Cytotoxins; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium