Open AccessStaphylococcus aureus α‐toxin induces apoptosis in endothelial cells
Author(s) -
Menzies Barbara E,
Kourteva Iordanka
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2000.tb01503.x
Subject(s) - staphylococcus aureus , apoptosis , toxin , umbilical vein , biology , endothelial stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , internalization , human umbilical vein endothelial cell , in vitro , cell , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics
The internalization of Staphylococcus aureus by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells was recently shown to induce apoptosis. We examined the role of α‐toxin, a major pore‐forming toxin secreted by S. aureus , in causing apoptosis in vitro. Purified α‐toxin, at sublytic concentrations, induced apoptosis in endothelial cell monolayers. Comparisons of two α‐toxin ( hla )‐positive S. aureus strains and their isogenic hla ‐deficient mutants in the invasion assay of endothelial cells demonstrated that the capacity to produce α‐toxin was associated with a greater propensity for apoptosis in endothelial cells. These results demonstrate for the first time that expression of α‐toxin during endothelial cell invasion by S. aureus enhances apoptosis.