title: Retracted: Apoptosis of CT26 colorectal cancer cells induced by Clostridium difficile toxin A stimulates potent anti-tumor immunity.
abstract: Clostridium difficile toxin A (TcdA) is one of the main pathogenic factors released by C. difficile. Due to its potent cytotoxic and proinflammatory activities, we investigated the anti-tumor activity of TcdA. CT26 colorectal cancer cells were challenged with recombinant TcdA, and it was found that TcdA could induce apoptosis of CT26 cells. Calreticulin (CRT) exposure to the cell surface during TcdA-induced apoptosis suggested that this apoptosis may correlate with immunogenicity. Moreover, TcdA-treated apoptotic CT26 cells were highly immunogenic since they could stimulate DC activation, T-cell activation, and anti-tumor activity. Furthermore, the anti-tumor immune response generated was specific and long-term. In summary, these studies demonstrate that C. difficile toxin A can induce apoptotic death of CT26 colorectal cancer cells and stimulate potent anti-tumor immunity.
authors.affiliation: School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Tuxiong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Guangchao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiaoning
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hanping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jufang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; C041348:tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile