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Published on: June 11, 2009
Effect of Salmonella typhimurium toxin on the expression of rabbit intestinal functions
Chitra1, Puja Sun, Safrun Mahmood
1Department of Experimental Medicine & Biotechnology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India.
Background & Objectives:
Infection by Salmonella Typhimurium is one of the leading causes of intestinal dysfunction, however the underlying mechanism of this effect is largely unknown. Hence the effect of enterotoxin secreted by Salmonella Typhimurium-(S-LT) was studied on D-glucose absorption and brush border enzymes in rabbit ileum. mRNA levels encoding these proteins were also analysed.
Methods:
Adult male New Zealand white rabbits were used. The polymyxine B extract of enterotoxin obtained from Salmonella Typhimurium was tested for the presence of enterotoxicity by rabbit ileal loop test. D-glucose uptake by ileal tissue was measured by the tissue accumulation method. Intestinal brush border membranes were isolated and the effect of S-LT on various brush border enzymes studied.
Results:
S-LT significantly inhibited (P < 0.01) the absorption of Na+ dependent D-glucose uptake but had no effect on Na+ independent sugar uptake in rabbit ileum. The activities of brush border sucrase (72% P < 0.001) and lactase (47% P < 0.01) and alkaline phosphatase (43% P < 0.01) were also significantly reduced in infected animals as compared to the controls. Northern blot analysis revealed that mRNA levels encoding Na+ glucose co-transporter (SGLT1), brush border lactase and sucrase activities were unaffected in Salmonella infected rabbit ileal loops.
Interpretation & Conclusion:
The findings suggest that the intestinal dysfunctions observed in Salmonella infection are unrelated to mRNA expression encoding Na+ glucose co-transporter and brush border enzyme proteins in rabbit ileum.
Insights
Salmonella Typhimurium enterotoxin impairs D-glucose absorption and brush border enzyme activity in rabbits. However, mRNA levels for these proteins remain unaffected, suggesting dysfunction is not due to altered gene expression.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Salmonella Typhimurium infection is a major cause of intestinal dysfunction.
- The precise mechanisms behind Salmonella-induced intestinal dysfunction are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of Salmonella Typhimurium enterotoxin (S-LT) on D-glucose absorption and brush border enzyme activity in rabbit ileum.
- To analyze the mRNA levels of proteins involved in D-glucose absorption and brush border enzymes.
Main Methods:
- Enterotoxicity of S-LT was confirmed using the rabbit ileal loop test.
- D-glucose uptake was measured via tissue accumulation.
- Brush border membrane enzymes and mRNA levels were analyzed in Salmonella-infected rabbits.
Main Results:
- S-LT significantly inhibited Na+-dependent D-glucose uptake but not Na+-independent uptake.
- Activities of brush border sucrase, lactase, and alkaline phosphatase were significantly reduced in infected rabbits.
- mRNA levels for Na+ glucose co-transporter (SGLT1), lactase, and sucrase were not affected by Salmonella infection.
Conclusions:
- Intestinal dysfunction in Salmonella infection is not linked to changes in mRNA expression of SGLT1 or brush border enzymes.
- The study suggests post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms may be involved in Salmonella-induced intestinal dysfunction.
