title: Clostridium perfringens iota-toxin b induces rapid cell necrosis.
abstract: Clostridium perfringens iota-toxin is a binary toxin composed of an enzyme component (Ia) and a binding component (Ib). Each component alone lacks toxic activity, but together they produce cytotoxic effects. We examined the cytotoxicity of iota-toxin Ib in eight cell lines. A431 and A549 cells were susceptible to Ib, but MDCK, Vero, CHO, Caco-2, HT-29, and DLD-1 cells were not. Ib bound and formed oligomers in the membranes of A431 and MDCK cells. However, Ib entered MDCK cells but not A431 cells, suggesting that uptake is essential for cellular survival. Ib also induced cell swelling and the rapid depletion of cellular ATP in A431 and A549 cells but not the insensitive cell lines. In A431 cells, Ib binds and oligomerizes mainly in nonlipid rafts in the membranes. Disruption of lipid rafts by methyl-β-cyclodextrin did not impair ATP depletion or cell death caused by Ib. Ib induced permeabilization by propidium iodide without DNA fragmentation in A431 cells. Ultrastructural studies revealed that A431 cells undergo necrosis after treatment with Ib. Ib caused a disruption of mitochondrial permeability and the release of cytochrome c. Staining with active-form-specific antibodies showed that the proapoptotic Bcl-2-family proteins Bax and Bak were activated and colocalized with mitochondria in Ib-treated A431 cells. We demonstrate that Ib by itself produces cytotoxic activity through necrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan. nagahama@ph.bunri-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagahama
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Umezaki
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Shigenobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tone
authors.forename: Taiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishidoh
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sakurai
mesh_terms: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000633:toxicity*; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D002460:Cell Line; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D009336:Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011188:Potassium; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C050737:iota toxin, Clostridium perfringens; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D045304:Cytochromes c; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D011188:Potassium