Abstract
Verocytotoxin 1 and 2 (VT1 and 2) produced by verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli have been considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of glomerular and tubular damage in the epidemic form of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). VTs are known to be cytotoxic to culture cells by inhibiting cellular protein synthesis. In this in vitro study, the mechanism(s) of tubular damage in HUS and the ability of VT1 to induce apoptosis in normal human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HRPTEC) were examined. VT1 markedly reduced cell viability of HRPTEC and rapidly inhibited overall protein synthesis. VT1 directly induced apoptotic cell death in HRPTEC in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, and co-incubation with tumor necrosis factor-α enhanced the VT1-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that apoptosis induced by VT1, possibly in concert with host cytokines, in renal tubular cells may contribute to the tubular damage in HUS.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 15 December 1998
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kodama, T., Nagayama, K., Yamada, K. et al. Induction of apoptosis in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells by Escherichia coli verocytotoxin 1 in vitro. Med Microbiol Immunol 188, 73–78 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004300050107
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004300050107