title: Loss of endothelial barrier antigen immunoreactivity as a marker of Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin-induced microvascular damage in rat brain.
abstract: The epsilon toxin elaborated by Clostridium perfringens type D in the intestine of domestic livestock is principally responsible for the neurological disease produced after its absorption in excessive quantities into the systemic circulation. The fundamental basis of the cerebral damage induced by epsilon toxin appears to be microvascular injury with ensuing severe, diffuse vasogenic oedema. Endothelial barrier antigen (EBA), which is normally expressed by virtually all capillaries and venules in the rat brain, was used in this study as a marker of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. After exposure to high levels of circulating epsilon toxin, there was substantial loss of EBA in many brain microvessels, attended by widespread plasma albumin extravasation. These results support microvascular injury and subsequent BBB breakdown as a key factor in the pathogenesis of epsilon toxin-induced neurological disease.
authors: SA Pathology, Hanson Institute Centre for Neurological Diseases, Frome Road, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; School of Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: john.finnie@health.sa.gov.au.
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: Finnie
authors: SA Pathology, Hanson Institute Centre for Neurological Diseases, Frome Road, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Manavis
authors: Ophthalmic Research Laboratories, South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology, Hanson Institute Centre for Neurological Diseases, Frome Road, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Adelaide, Frome Road, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Chidlow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000473:pathology*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D003016:Clostridium perfringens; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D015415:Biomarkers; C114781:endothelial barrier antigen, rat
keywords: Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin; endothelial barrier antigen; microvascular injury; rat brain