Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Primary Mouse Keratinocytes from Neonatal and Adult Mouse Skin
10:51

Isolation and Culture of Primary Mouse Keratinocytes from Neonatal and Adult Mouse Skin

Published on: July 14, 2017

Effects of anthrax lethal toxin on human primary keratinocytes

S S Koçer1, M Matic, M Ingrassia

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, New York, NY 11794-8691, USA.

Journal of Applied Microbiology
|January 6, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Human skin cells (keratinocytes) resist anthrax lethal toxin (LeTx) cell death. While LeTx cleaves key signaling proteins (MEKs), this doesn't cause toxicity, but paradoxically increases RANTES, potentially attracting immune cells.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Immunology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Anthrax lethal toxin (LeTx) is known to affect cellular processes.
  • The impact of LeTx on human primary keratinocytes, the main cells in the epidermis, is not fully understood.
  • Previous studies suggest LeTx may have anti-inflammatory effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of anthrax lethal toxin (LeTx) on human primary keratinocytes.
  • To determine if LeTx induces cytotoxicity in keratinocytes.
  • To examine the impact of LeTx on mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MEKs) and cytokine expression in keratinocytes.

Main Methods:

  • Exposure of human primary keratinocytes to anthrax lethal toxin (LeTx).
  • Analysis of MEK cleavage and subsequent proteasomal degradation.
  • Measurement of cytokine concentrations in cell culture supernatant.

Main Results:

  • Human primary keratinocytes demonstrated resistance to LeTx-induced cytotoxicity.
  • Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MEKs) were cleaved and degraded, but this did not correlate with cell death.
  • LeTx reduced concentrations of several cytokines, but significantly upregulated RANTES.

Conclusions:

  • Primary keratinocytes are resistant to LeTx cytotoxicity.
  • MEK cleavage by LeTx does not predict LeTx-induced cell death in keratinocytes.
  • LeTx upregulates RANTES, a chemoattractant for immune cells, potentially explaining neutrophil recruitment to infection sites despite a general downregulation of other inflammatory markers.

More Related Videos

Generation and Culturing of Primary Human Keratinocytes from Adult Skin10:42

Generation and Culturing of Primary Human Keratinocytes from Adult Skin

Published on: December 22, 2017

Implementation of a Permeable Membrane Insert-based Infection System to Study the Effects of Secreted Bacterial Toxins on Mammalian Host Cells09:25

Implementation of a Permeable Membrane Insert-based Infection System to Study the Effects of Secreted Bacterial Toxins on Mammalian Host Cells

Published on: August 19, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Inhalation Anthrax01:25

Inhalation Anthrax

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium. It primarily affects herbivorous animals but can be transmitted to humans through skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation of spores.Cutaneous anthrax, the most common form, typically results from direct contact with bacterial spores through skin abrasions and is generally less severe. Gastrointestinal anthrax results from eating undercooked or contaminated meat. It affects the mouth, throat, or...
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...
Cells of the Epidermis01:24

Cells of the Epidermis

The epidermis is made of four or five layers of epithelial cells, depending on its location in the body. From deep to superficial, these layers are the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum, and stratum corneum.
The cells in all these layers except the stratum basale are called keratinocytes, a type of cell that manufactures and stores the protein keratin. The keratinocytes in the stratum corneum are dead and regularly slough away, being replaced by cells from...
Diphtheria01:28

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...