title: Rho-activating Escherichia coli cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1: macropinocytosis of apoptotic bodies in human epithelial cells.
abstract: Some pathogenic Escherichia coli strains produce a protein toxin, named cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1), which permanently activates proteins belonging to the Rho family. In epithelial cells, the consequence of this activation is the rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton and the promotion of an intense and generalized ruffling activity. This leads, in turn, to the induction of a phagocytic-like behavior called macropinocytosis that, in the case of CNF1, depends on the coordinate activation of Rho, Rac and Cdc42. Following internalization, the ingested material is discharged into Rab-7 and Lamp-1-positive acidic vesicles where it probably undergoes degradation. By exerting this activity, CNF1-activated epithelial cells might support the scavenging activity of macrophages during bacterial overgrowth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrastructures, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falzano
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Travaglione
authors.forename: Annarita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stringaro
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Malorni
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fais
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiorentini
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD; D017209:Apoptosis; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004705:Endocytosis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006801:Humans; D051907:Lysosomal Membrane Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003603:Cytotoxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D051907:Lysosomal Membrane Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C060296:cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins