title: Cytotoxic effect of Shiga toxin-2 holotoxin and its B subunit on human renal tubular epithelial cells.
abstract: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli produces watery diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). In Argentina, HUS is the most common cause of acute renal failure in children. The purpose of the present study was to examine the cytotoxicity of Stx type 2 (Stx2 holotoxin) and its B subunit (Stx2 B subunit) on human renal tubular epithelial cells (HRTEC), in the presence and absence of inflammatory factors. Cell morphology, cell viability, protein synthesis and apoptosis were measured. HRTEC are sensitive to both Stx2 holotoxin and Stx2 B subunit in a dose- and time-dependent manner. IL-1, LPS and butyrate but not TNF, IL-6 and IL-8, increased the Stx mediated cytotoxicity. The effects of Stx2 B subunit appear at doses higher than those used for Stx2 holotoxin. Although the physiological importance of these effects is not clear, it is important to be aware of any potentially toxic activity in the B subunit, given that it has been proposed for use in a vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiopatogenia, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, 7mo piso, cp 1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Virginia Pistone
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Creydt
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silberstein
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zotta
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ibarra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000633:toxicity*; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2 / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D002087:Butyrates; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D021122:Protein Subunits; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2; C450841:shiga toxin 2 B subunit