Effect of epsilon toxin-GFP on MDCK cells and renal tubules in vivo

J Histochem Cytochem. 2004 Jul;52(7):931-42. doi: 10.1369/jhc.4A6254.2004.

Abstract

Epsilon toxin (epsilon-toxin), produced by Clostridium perfringens types B and D, causes fatal enterotoxemia, also known as pulpy kidney disease, in livestock. Recombinant epsilon-toxin-green fluorescence protein (epsilon-toxin-GFP) and epsilon-prototoxin-GFP were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. MTT assays on MDCK cells confirmed that recombinant epsilon-toxin-GFP retained the cytotoxicity of the native toxin. Direct fluorescence analysis of MDCK cells revealed a homogeneous peripheral pattern that was temperature sensitive and susceptible to detergent. epsilon-Toxin-GFP and epsilon-prototoxin-GFP bound to endothelia in various organs of injected mice, especially the brain. However, fluorescence mainly accumulated in kidneys. Mice injected with epsilon-toxin-GFP showed severe kidney alterations, including hemorrhagic medullae and selective degeneration of distal tubules. Moreover, experiments on kidney cryoslices demonstrated specific binding to distal tubule cells of a range of species. We demonstrate with new recombinant fluorescence tools that epsilon-toxin binds in vivo to endothelial cells and renal tubules, where it has a strong cytotoxic effect. Our binding experiments indicate that an epsilon-toxin receptor is expressed on renal distal tubules of mammalian species, including human.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
  • Bacterial Toxins / pharmacokinetics
  • Bacterial Toxins / toxicity*
  • Cattle
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Dogs
  • Fixatives
  • Formaldehyde
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Kidney Tubules / drug effects*
  • Kidney Tubules / metabolism
  • Kidney Tubules / pathology
  • Ligands
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Polymers
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Precursors / genetics
  • Protein Precursors / pharmacokinetics
  • Protein Precursors / toxicity
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacokinetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / toxicity
  • Sheep
  • Species Specificity
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin
  • Fixatives
  • Ligands
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Polymers
  • Protein Precursors
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Formaldehyde
  • paraform