Nitric oxide-mediated apoptosis in rat macrophages subjected to shiga toxin from Escherichia coli

BARONETTI JL ; ANGEL VILLEGAS N; PARAJE MG; ALBESA I

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2011 p. 231 - 231

higa toxin-producing Escherichia coli are important food-borne pathogens. The main factor conferringvirulence on this bacterium is its capacity to secrete Shiga toxins (Stxs), which have been reported toinduce apoptosis in several cell types. However, the mechanisms of this apoptosis have not yet beenfully elucidated. In addition, Stxs have been shown to stimulate macrophages to produce nitric oxide(NO), a well-known apoptosis inductor.The aim of this study was to investigate the participation ofNO in apoptosis of rat peritoneal macrophages induced by culture supernatants or Stx2 from E. coli.Peritoneal macrophages incubated in the presence of E. coli supernatants showed an increase in theamounts of apoptosis and NO production. Furthermore, inhibition of NO synthesis induced by additionof aminoguanidine (AG) was correlated with a reduction in the percentage of apoptotic cells, indicatingparticipation of this metabolite in the apoptotic process. Similarly, treatment of cells with Stx2