Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Toxins01:12

Bacterial Toxins

Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas and Cancer Predisposition Syndromes: A Retrospective Study.

HGG advances·2026
Same author

Stem Cell Mobilization and Autologous Transplantation Outcomes After First-Line R-DA-EPOCH in High-Risk DLBCL and HGBCL: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Cancers·2026
Same author

Mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles: a new therapeutic landscape in bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Thorax·2026
Same author

Validation of a large language model as a decision tool for drug interaction in prostate cancer: A comparative study against UpToDate. Meet-URO 5/25 - GENIE study.

Journal of geriatric oncology·2026
Same author

Pre-treatment circulating microRNA signatures predict outcomes of anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy.

Haematologica·2026
Same author

Metabolic syndrome in cushing's syndrome patients: Does gender matter?

Pituitary·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Epithelial Cell Infection Analyses with Shigella
04:56

Epithelial Cell Infection Analyses with Shigella

Published on: February 9, 2024

Interactions between Shiga toxins and human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Maurizio Brigotti1, Domenica Carnicelli, Elisa Ravanelli

  • 1Università di Bologna, Via San Giacomo, 14, Bologna, Italy 40126. maurizio.brigotti@unibo.it

Journal of Leukocyte Biology
|July 16, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Shiga toxin (Stx) binds to mature human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), delaying their apoptosis and enabling toxin transfer to other PMN. This interaction may explain Stx persistence in children with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

More Related Videos

Development of Human Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Primary Cultures in Monolayers and Three-Dimensional Conditions
06:32

Development of Human Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Primary Cultures in Monolayers and Three-Dimensional Conditions

Published on: June 13, 2025

Imaging Ca2+ Responses During Shigella Infection of Epithelial Cells
08:56

Imaging Ca2+ Responses During Shigella Infection of Epithelial Cells

Published on: May 24, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Epithelial Cell Infection Analyses with Shigella
04:56

Epithelial Cell Infection Analyses with Shigella

Published on: February 9, 2024

Development of Human Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Primary Cultures in Monolayers and Three-Dimensional Conditions
06:32

Development of Human Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Primary Cultures in Monolayers and Three-Dimensional Conditions

Published on: June 13, 2025

Imaging Ca2+ Responses During Shigella Infection of Epithelial Cells
08:56

Imaging Ca2+ Responses During Shigella Infection of Epithelial Cells

Published on: May 24, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli cause severe human infections, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a leading cause of childhood renal failure.
  • The mechanism of Shiga toxin (Stx) dissemination in HUS, particularly its transport in the bloodstream, remains incompletely understood.
  • Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) have been implicated as potential carriers of Stx, but the precise nature of their interaction requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction between Shiga toxins (Stx) and human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN).
  • To determine if PMN play a role in the transport and persistence of Stx in the context of HUS.

Main Methods:

  • Flow cytometry (direct and indirect) was used to analyze Stx binding to human PMN.
  • Binding experiments with radiolabeled toxins were performed.
  • The human myeloid leukemia cell line (HL-60) was utilized to model inducible granulocytic differentiation.
  • Apoptosis assays (caspase 3 activation, annexin V binding) were conducted to assess the effect of Stx on PMN viability.
  • Mixed PMN populations were analyzed to study toxin transfer.

Main Results:

  • Shiga toxins (Stx) bind to the surface of mature human PMN, but not immature PMN.
  • Toxin binding was observed only after granulocytic differentiation, confirmed using the HL-60 cell model.
  • Stx binding delayed spontaneous apoptosis in PMN, evidenced by reduced caspase 3 activation and annexin V staining.
  • Flow cytometry demonstrated the transfer of Stx from Stx-positive PMN to Stx-negative PMN.

Conclusions:

  • Mature human PMN bind Shiga toxins (Stx) on their surface.
  • Stx binding inhibits PMN apoptosis and facilitates toxin transfer between PMN.
  • These findings suggest a mechanism for Stx persistence in the bloodstream of HUS patients, involving PMN as carriers and transfer agents.