Clostridium perfringens beta-toxin binding to vascular endothelial cells in a human case of enteritis necroticans.
Clostridium perfringens type C-induced enteritis necroticans is a rare but often fatal disease in humans. A consistent histopathological finding is an acute, deep necrosis of the small intestinal mucosa associated with acute vascular necrosis and massive haemorrhage in the lamina propria and submucosa. Retrospective immunohistochemical investigations of tissues from a diabetic adult who died of enteritis necroticans revealed endothelial localization of C. perfringens beta-toxin in small intestinal lesions. Our results indicate that vascular necrosis might be induced by a direct interaction between C. perfringens beta-toxin and endothelial cells and that targeted disruption of endothelial cells plays a role in the pathogenesis of enteritis necroticans.
Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Julien
J
Miclard
Laboratorium Pathologie Oost Nederland, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Joop
J
van Baarlen
Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Marianne
M
Wyder
Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Benno
B
Grabscheid
Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Horst
H
Posthaus
D000328:Adult; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C031884:CPB protein, Clostridium perfringens