Botulinolysin, a thiol-activated hemolysin produced by Clostridium botulinum, inhibits endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat aortic ring

Role of pore-forming toxins in bacterial infectious diseases

Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are the most common bacterial cytotoxic proteins and are required for virulence in a large number of important pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, group A and B streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. PFTs generally disrupt host cell membranes, but they can have additional effects independent of pore formation. Substantial effort has been devoted to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of certain model PFTs. Likewise, specific host pathways mediating survival and immune responses in the face of toxin-mediated cellular damage have been delineated. However, less is known about the overall functions of PFTs during infection in vivo. This review focuses on common themes in the area of PFT biology, with an emphasis on studies addressing the roles of PFTs in in vivo and ex vivo models of colonization or infection. Common functions of PFTs include disruption of epithelial barrier function and evasion of host immune responses, which contribute to bacterial growth and spreading. The widespread nature of PFTs make this group of toxins an attractive target for the development of new virulence-targeted therapies that may have broad activity against human pathogens.

The MACPF/CDC family of pore-forming toxins

Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are commonly associated with bacterial pathogenesis. In eukaryotes, however, PFTs operate in the immune system or are deployed for attacking prey (e.g. venoms). This review focuses upon two families of globular protein PFTs: the cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) and the membrane attack complex/perforin superfamily (MACPF). CDCs are produced by Gram-positive bacteria and lyse or permeabilize host cells or intracellular organelles during infection. In eukaryotes, MACPF proteins have both lytic and non-lytic roles and function in immunity, invasion and development. The structure and molecular mechanism of several CDCs are relatively well characterized. Pore formation involves oligomerization and assembly of soluble monomers into a ring-shaped pre-pore which undergoes conformational change to insert into membranes, forming a large amphipathic transmembrane β-barrel. In contrast, the structure and mechanism of MACPF proteins has remained obscure. Recent crystallographic studies now reveal that although MACPF and CDCs are extremely divergent at the sequence level, they share a common fold. Together with biochemical studies, these structural data suggest that lytic MACPF proteins use a CDC-like mechanism of membrane disruption, and will help understand the roles these proteins play in immunity and development.

A new isoquinolinone derivative with noble vasorelaxation activity

The pharmacological effects of BDPBI (7-bromo-1,4-dihydro-2-phenyl-4,4-bis(4-pyridinylmethyl)2H-isoquinolin-3-one dihydrochloride) were tested on isolated endothelium-containing or denuded aorta of the guinea pig. BDPBI with the formula C(27)H(24)BrCl(2)N(3)O was synthesized starting with 3-isochromanone. In the endothelium-containing preparations of the aortic rings, phenylephrine (PHE; 10 micromol/l) elicited contracture and acetylcholine (ACh; 10 micromol/l) or BDPBI (0.01-10 micromol/l) elicited relaxation effects on the PHE-precontracted preparations. The BDPBI-elicited effect on the PHE-precontracted aortic rings was not altered in the presence of adrenergic blockers (propranolol or yohimbine; 1 micromol/l) or pretreated preparations with aspirin, indomethacin (10 micromol/l) or L-NAME (1 mmol/l). However, the relaxation effects of BDPBI were blocked if the preparations were pretreated with diphenhydramine (10 micromol/l) or chloropheniramine maleate (10 micromol/l). In contrast to lower concentrations of atropine (1 micromol/l), higher concentrations of atropine (30 micromol/l) did block the effects of BDPBI on the PHE-precontracted aortic rings. HTMT dimaleate (0.01-10 micromol/l), a histamine H(1) receptor agonist, also elicited relaxation effects on the PHE-precontracted preparation, and the effects were blocked if the preparations were pretreated with diphenhydramine or chloropheniramine maleate. On isolated denuded aorta of the guinea pig, BDPBI did not elicit relaxation effects on the PHE-precontracted aortic rings. These results demonstrated that the vasorelaxation effect of BDPBI on PHE-precontracted aortic rings is partly dependent on the activation of a histaminergic receptor from the vascular endothelium. We suggested that BDPBI would be an effective vasorelaxant for cardiovascular systems.

Formation of ring-shaped structures on erythrocyte membranes after treatment with botulinolysin, a thiol-activated hemolysin from Clostridium botulinum

Damage to erythrocyte membranes by botulinolysin (BLY) was studied by electron microscopy, which revealed ring-shaped structures with inner diameters and widths of approximately 32 and 6.7 nm, respectively. BLY bound to membranes at 0 degrees C, but subsequent treatment with glutaraldehyde prevented ring formation during further incubation at 37 degrees C. Zn2+ ions inhibited ring formation but not binding of BLY to membranes.