title: Shiga toxin type 2 (Stx2), a potential agent of bioterrorism, has a short distribution and a long elimination half-life, and induces kidney and thymus lesions in rats.
abstract: Shiga toxin type 2, a major virulence factor produced by the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, is a potential toxin agent of bioterrorism. In this study, iodine-125 (125I) was used as an indicator to describe the in vivo Stx2 biodistribution profile. The rats were injected intravenously (i.v.) with 125I-Stx2 at three doses of 5.1-127.5 μg/kg body weight. Stx2 had a short distribution half-life (t (1/2)α, less than 6 min) and a long elimination half-life in rat. The toxicokinetics of Stx2 in rats was dose dependent and nonlinear. Stx2 concentrations in various tissues were detected at 5-min, 0.5-h, and 72-h postinjection. High radioactivity was found in the lungs, kidneys, nasal turbinates, and sometimes in the eyes, which has never been reported in previous studies. In a preliminary assessment, lesions were found in the kidney and thymus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiological Omics and Bioinformatics, State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, No.20 Dongdajie, Fengtai District, 100071, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yue-Nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sheng-Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Xiao-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Ren-Mao
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Yuan-Guo
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Jian-Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D023482:Bioterrorism; D006207:Half-Life; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2