The NF-kappaB p50 subunit is protective during intestinal Entamoeba histolytica infection of 129 and C57BL/6 mice.
Entamoeba histolytica is the agent of amebic colitis. In this work we examined the intestinal NF-kappaB response to this parasite. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we found that the NF-kappaB subunit p50 predominated in nuclear extracts of whole cecal tissue and of isolated crypts from mice inoculated with E. histolytica. p50 was protective, since C57BL/6 and 129 mice in which there was targeted deletion of this subunit were more susceptible to E. histolytica infection as measured by culture results, cecal parasite ELISA results, and/or histologic scores. The transepithelial electrical resistance of cecal explants from C57BL/6 and 129 p50 knockout mice decreased markedly in response to the parasite compared with the transepithelial electrical resistance of their wild-type counterparts, suggesting that a protective function of p50 was present in the epithelium itself. This work shows that NF-kappaB activity, particularly activity of the p50 subunit, is one factor that contributes to resistance of the gut to E. histolytica infection.
Cho
Kyou-Nam
KN
Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908-1363, USA.
Becker
Stephen M
SM
Houpt
Eric R
ER
D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology*; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit / Q000276:immunology*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000276:immunology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit; D021122:Protein Subunits; C073701:Nfkb1 protein, mouse