In vitro cytotoxicity induced by Clostridium perfringens isolate carrying a chromosomal cpe gene is exclusively dependent on sporulation and enterotoxin production. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yasugi, Mayo; Sugahara, Yuki; Hoshi, Hidenobu; Kondo, Kaori; Talukdar, Prabhat K.; Sarker, Mahfuzur R.; Yamamoto, Shigeki; Kamata, Yoichi; Miyake, Masami
• Is Part Of: Microbial pathogenesis. Volume 85(2015)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Clostridium perfringens -- Food poisoning -- Caco-2 cells -- Enterotoxin -- Cytotoxicity; Pathogenic microorganisms -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- parasitology -- Periodicals; Micro-organismes pathogènes -- Périodiques; Pathologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2015.04.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0882-4010

Abstract

Abstract: Clostridium perfringens type A is a common source of food poisoning (FP) and non-food-borne (NFB) gastrointestinal diseases in humans. In the intestinal tract, the vegetative cells sporulate and produce a major pathogenic factor, C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE). Most type A FP isolates carry a chromosomal cpe gene, whereas NFB type A isolates typically carry a plasmid-encoded cpe . In vitro, the purified CPE protein binds to a receptor and forms pores, exerting a cytotoxic activity in epithelial cells. However, it remains unclear if CPE is indispensable for C. perfringens cytotoxicity. In this study, we examined the cytotoxicity of cpe -harboring C. perfringens isolates co-cultured with human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells. The FP strains showed severe cytotoxicity during sporulation and CPE production, but not during vegetative cell growth. While Caco-2 cells were intact during co-culturing with cpe -null mutant derivative of strain SM101 (a FP strain carrying a chromosomal cpe gene), the wild-type level cytotoxicity was observed with cpe -complemented strain. In contrast, both wild-type and cpe -null mutant derivative of the NFB strain F4969 induced Caco-2 cell death during both vegetative and sporulation growth. Collectively, the Caco-2 cell cytotoxicity caused by C. perfringens strain SM101 is considered to be exclusively dependent on CPE production, whereas some additional toxins should be involved in F4969-mediated in vitro cytotoxicity. Highlights: Clostridium perfringens grew in co-culture with Caco-2 cells. C. perfringens co-cultured with Caco-2 sporulated in DMEM with starch and bile salt. C. perfringens FP strain was cytotoxic to Caco-2 cells during sporulation. Cytotoxicity by SM101 during sporulation was exclusively dependent on enterotoxin. Cytotoxicity by NFP strain F4969 was not dependent on enterotoxin.