Neuraminidase treatment of adrenal cells increases their response to cholera enterotoxin

The nature and action of cholera toxin

Cholera diarrhoea is due to the action of a toxin that acts on all animal cells by stimulating the enzyme adenylate cyclase, which catalyses the production oc cyclic AMP from ATP. In intestinal brush border cells raised cyclic AMP levels result in increased secretion of chloride ions, leading to fluid accumulation in the gut. Escherichia coli produces a similar toxin. The receptor for cholera toxin on the cell membrane appears to be a complex containing the ganglioside GGnSLC (or GM1). Cholera toxin is a protein composed of two different kinds of subunits linked non-covalently. Each toxin molecule has one subunit A and four or more subunits B. Subunit B is inactive but binds to the ganglioside GGnSLC on the cell surface. Subunit A does not bind to cell membranes or gangioside and is slightly toxic to intact cells but strongly and instantly active in lysed cells. The binding of whole toxin through the B subunit to the cell is followed by a lag before subunit A penetrates the cell membrane (leaving subunit B on the surface) and stimulates the adenylate cyclase. The stimulation of adenylate cyclase depends on the presence of NAD and other co-factors present in the cell sap.

Role of Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase in the function of cholera toxin

Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase (NANase) is hypothesized to act synergistically with cholera toxin (CT) and increase the severity of a secretory response by increasing the binding and penetration of CT to enterocytes. To test this hypothesis, the NANase gene (nanH) from V. cholerae Ogawa 395 was first cloned and sequenced. Isogenic wild-type and NANase- V. cholerae 395 strains were then constructed by using suicide vector-mediated mutagenesis. The influence of NANase on CT binding and penetration was examined in vitro by using culture filtrates from these isogenic strains. Fluorescence due to binding of fluorescein-conjugated CT to C57BL/6 and C3H mouse fibroblasts exposed to NANase+ filtrates increased five- and eightfold, respectively, relative to that with NANase- filtrates. In addition, NANase+ filtrates increased the short-circuit current measured in Ussing chambers 65% relative to that with NANase- filtrates, although this difference decreased as production of CT increased. The role of NANase in V. cholerae pathogenesis was examined in vivo by intragastric inoculation of the isogenic strains into CD1 suckling mice. No difference in fluid accumulation ratios was seen at doses of 10(4) to 10(8) CFU, but NANase+ strains produced 18% higher fluid accumulation ratios at 10(9) CFU than NANase- strains when inoculated into nonfasted suckling mice. It is concluded that NANase plays a subtle but significant role in the binding and uptake of CT by susceptible cells under defined conditions.

Actions of cholera toxin and the prevention and treatment of cholera

The drastic intestinal secretion of fluid and electrolytes that is characteristic of cholera is the result of reasonably well understood cellular and biochemical actions of the toxin secreted by Vibrio cholerae. Based on this understanding it is possible to devise new techniques for the treatment and prophylaxis of cholera to complement those based on fluid replacement therapy and sanitation.

Mechanism of action of choleragen

Choleragen exerts its effect on cells through activation of adenylate cyclase. Choleragen initially interacts with cells through binding of the B subunit of the toxin to the ganglioside GM1 on the cell surface. Subsequent events are less clear. Patching or capping of toxin on the cell surface may be an obligatory step in choleragen action. Studies in cell-free systems have demonstrated that activation of adenylate cyclase by choleragen requires NAD. In addition to NAD, requirements have been observed for ATP, GTP, and calcium-dependent regulatory protein. GTP also is required for the expression of choleragen-activated adenylate cyclase. In preparations from turkey erythrocytes, choleragen appears to inhibit an isoproterenol-stimulated GTPase. It has been postulated that by decreasing the activity of a specific GTPase, choleragen would stabilize a GTP-adenylate cyclase complex and maintain the cyclase in an activated state. Although the holotoxin is most effective in intact cells, with the A subunit having 1/20th of its activity and the B subunit (choleragenoid) being inactive, in cell-free systems the A subunit, specifically the A1 fragment, is required for adenylate cyclase activation. The B protomer is inactive. Choleragen, the A subunit, or A1 fragment under suitable conditions hydrolyzes NAD to ADP-ribose and nicotinamide (NAD glycohydrolase activity) and catalyzes the transfer of the ADP-ribose moiety of NAD to the guandino group of arginine (ADP-ribosyltransferase activity). The NAD glycohydrolase activity is similar to that exhibited by other NAD-dependent bacterial toxins (diphtheria toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin A), which act by catalyzing the ADP-ribosylation of a specific acceptor protein. If the ADP-ribosylation of arginine is a model for the reaction catalyzed by choleragen in vivo, then arginine is presumably an analog of the amino acid which is ADP-ribosylated in the acceptor protein. It is postulated that choleragen exerts its effects on cells through the NAD-dependent ADP-ribosylation of an arginine or similar amino acid in either the cyclase itself or a regulatory protein of the cyclase system.

Interaction of tetanus toxin and toxoid with cultured neuroblastoma cells. Analysis by immunofluorescence

The primary interaction of tetanus toxin and toxoid with mouse neuroblastoma cells (C 1300, clone NB2A) in tissue culture was studied using direct immunofluorescence. Experiments were done in standard routine cultures and also those influenced by chemical modulators. There is a difference in the characteristic binding response between the growth culture cells (grown in presence of fetal calf serum) and differentiating culture cells (grown in absence of serum). Exposure to the toxin gives no visible effect on the cell division or viability in growth cultures; whereas in differentiating cells the processes are shortened and the adherence to the glass is diminished without involving significant cell death. The toxoid did not bind at all under the same experimental conditions. Since there was no biological effect in growth cultures we have called this binding ineffective, and in the case of the differentiating cells, effective binding. Stimulation of pinocytosis increases the uptake of toxin in both cultures. Presence of some surface bound toxin still remaining on the differentiating cells indicates the possibility of another sort of mechanism for internalization. Pre-treatment of the cells with neuraminidase or beta-galactosidase to alter the membrane gangliosides eliminates binding in growth cultures but not in differentiating cultures. From these results we suggest that even though the toxin may well bind to gangliosides, at least in the differentiating cultures they are not solely responsible for the fixation. The morphologically observed effective binding is probably that not related to gangliosides.

On the mechanism of action of cholera toxin on isolated rat adrenocortical cells. Comparison with the effects of adrenocorticotropin on steroidogenesis and cyclic AMP output

The effects of cholera toxin on isolated rat adrenocortical cells have been investigated. Both steroid and cyclic AMP output from adrenal cells were increased by the toxin in a dose dependent fashion. The concentration of toxin for half maximal stimulation for both of these responses was about 40 ng/ml. Maximal steroidogenesis and cyclic AMP output was obtained with similar concentrations of the toxin. A correlation was observed between the low amounts of cyclic AMP produced in response to all doses of cholera toxin and to physiologically significant concentrations of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) (less than 0.1 munit/ml; i.e. submaximal for steroidogenesis in this system). This was in direct contrast to the much higher levels of cyclic AMP generated by concentrations of ACTH greater than 1 munits/ml. Time course studies demonstrated a time-lag between toxin addition and steroid response of at least 40 min. Binding of cholera toxin to adrenal cells was rapid and was 90% complete within 15 min at both 37 and 0 degrees C. These data indicate that most of the delay in response to cholera toxin is due to processes subsequent to the initial binding interaction. Following the initial delay the subsequent maximal rate of steroidogenesis brought about by cholera toxin was very similar to that obtained with a concentration of ACTH that was maximal for steroidogenesis. Significant increases in cyclic AMP levels were detected about 20 min before increased steroidogenesis was apparent. Possible explanations for this result are considered. The results presented indicate great potential use for cholera toxin in the study of adrenal steroidogenic control mechanisms, particularly at the level of receptor mechanisms and the role of cyclic AMP.

Stimulation of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and corticosterone formation in isolated rat adrenal cells by cholera enterotoxin. Comparison with the effects of ACTH

1. The production of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and corticosterone isolated ratadrenal cells was increased by cholera enterotoxin. Both responses were accompanied by a lag period which is characteristic of other known actions of enterotoxin. The duration of the lag period in the production of corticosterone depended on the concentration of enterotoxin; with the maximally stimulating amounts it was 30-45 min. 2. Maximum rates of cyclic AMP and corticosterone synthesis, after the lag period, were constant for at least 1 h. Although the maximum rate of corticosterone formation was the same as that obtained adrenocorticotropic hormone, the maximum rate of cyclic AMP formation was only 8-10% of that with adrenocorticotropic hormone. 3. Pretreatment of the cells with enterotoxin ahd no effect on their subsequent steroidogenic response to maximally stimulating amounts of adrenocorticotropic hormone. 4. Cycloheximide inhibited the effect of both enterotoxin and adrenocorticotropic hormone on corticosterone production. 5. Enterotoxin stimulation of both cyclic AMP and corticosterone formation was dependent on the presence of Ca2+ in the medium although the Ca2+ requirement was not same as that for adrenocorticotropic hormone. Thus, EGTA at concentrations which completely abolished the effect of adrenocorticotropic hormone caused only a partial reduction in the effects of enterotoxin. 6. Exogenously added choleragenoid and gangliosides abolished the effects of enterotoxin without having any significant effect on the response of the cells to adrenocorticotropic hormone. 7. After treatment with neuraminidase, the adrenal cells showed an increased response to enterotoxin in terms of both cyclic AMP and corticosterone formation which was due to a combination of two effects: (a) increased rate of synthesis of both compounds and (b) shortening of the characteristic lag period. This is in sharp contrast to the results obtained with adrenocorticotropic hormone where neuraminidase-treatment made the cells less sensitive to adrenocorticotropic hormone.