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The pathogenicity of Citrobacter rodentium is enhanced in mice fed diets deficient in selenium and vitamin E.
Author(s) -
Smith Allen D.,
Botero Sebastian,
SheaDonohue Terez
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a376-b
Subject(s) - citrobacter rodentium , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , heligmosomoides polygyrus , oxidative stress , spleen , vitamin , pathogenesis , colitis , citrobacter , selenium , immunology , immunity , immune system , endocrinology , chemistry , enterobacteriaceae , escherichia coli , biochemistry , organic chemistry , gene
Previous studies have shown that mice maintained on diets deficient in selenium and/or vitamin E showed a delayed clearance of a nematode parasite, Heligmosomoides polygyrus , from the intestine independent of IL‐4 and IL‐13. Changes in oxidative stress presumably altered intestinal function. In this study Citrobacter rodentium (CR) was used as a model enteric bacterial infection to determine if nutritionally‐induced oxidative stress would alter CR‐induced pathogenesis. Like E. coli infections in humans, CR induces infectious colitis in mice. Mice fed a diet deficient in selenium and vitamin E had an increased bacterial load in the colon at days 12 and 15 post‐infection, but not at day 7, suggesting that deficient mice did not efficiently control the infection. Colons from deficient mice appeared thicker and more rigid with a significantly higher colon/body weight ratio. Deficient mice also had higher levels of bacteria in the spleen on days 12 and 15 post‐infection indicating greater bacterial translocation. Gene expression analysis showed that mRNA levels for iNOS and other pro‐inflammatory cytokines decreased in deficient mice infected with CR. These results provide additional evidence that selenium and vitamin E are important nutrients for optimal mucosal immunity to viral, parasitic, and bacterial infections.