Mechanism of action of cholera toxin & other toxins

Vibrio cholerae produce a variety of extracellular products that have deleterious effects on eukaryotic cells. The massive diarrhoea produced by V. cholerae is caused by cholera toxin (CT). CT is composed of 1A and 5B units. CT causes a significant amount of fluid secretion and haemorrhage in the ligated rabbit ileal loops. Its action involves the role of various biochemical pathways. CT acts by activation of adenylate cyclase-cAMP system located at the basolateral membrane of intestinal epithelial cells. The increase in cyclic AMP levels is mainly responsible for the altered transport of Na+ and Cl-. Besides activating cAMP, CT is also known to act through release of prostaglandins and involvement of intramural nerves. Besides CT, other bacterial toxins like Escherichia coli LT, Salmonella toxin, Shigella toxin and Campylobacter toxin also possess A-B structure. The structure and function of E. coli LT resembles closely that of CT. Most of the bacterial toxins exert their effect through involvement of ADP-ribosylating proteins whereas other toxins involve guanylate cyclase system, calcium and protein kinases for their ultimate action.