title: Attack of the nervous system by Clostridium perfringens Epsilon toxin: from disease to mode of action on neural cells.
abstract: Epsilon toxin (ET), produced by Clostridium perfringens types B and D, ranks among the four most potent poisonous substances known so far. ET-intoxication is responsible for enterotoxaemia in animals, mainly sheep and goats. This disease comprises several manifestations indicating the attack of the nervous system. This review aims to summarize the effects of ET on central nervous system. ET binds to endothelial cells of brain capillary vessels before passing through the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, it induces perivascular oedema and accumulates into brain. ET binding to different brain structures and to different component in the brain indicates regional susceptibility to the toxin. Histological examination has revealed nerve tissue and cellular lesions, which may be directly or indirectly caused by ET. The naturally occurring disease caused by ET-intoxication can be reproduced experimentally in rodents. In mice and rats, ET recognizes receptor at the surface of different neural cell types, including certain neurons (e.g. the granule cells in cerebellum) as well as oligodendrocytes, which are the glial cells responsible for the axons myelination. Moreover, ET induces release of glutamate and other transmitters, leading to firing of neural network. The precise mode of action of ET on neural cells remains to be determined.
authors: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives (INCI), UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France.
authors: Laetitia
authors: L
authors: Wioland
authors: Jean-Luc
authors: JL
authors: Dupont
authors: Jean-Louis
authors: JL
authors: Bossu
authors: Michel R
authors: MR
authors: Popoff
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Poulain
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003016:Clostridium perfringens; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018683:Excitatory Amino Acid Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C039811:Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin; D018683:Excitatory Amino Acid Agents; D018698:Glutamic Acid
keywords: Brain; Clostridial toxins; Glutamate; Neuron; Pore-forming toxin; White matter