Many studies have indicated an association between bacteria and the severity of enteric secretory or inflammatory disorders. We previously showed that monolayers of human T84 epithelial cells display altered ion transport and permeability after coculture with Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB, a model superantigen)-activated immune cells, where interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-...

It has been difficult to separate/identify the roles of ClC-2 and CFTR in Cl(-) transport studies. Using pharmacological agents, we aimed to differentiate functionally between ClC-2 and CFTR Cl(-) channel currents. Effects of CFTR inhibitor 172 (CFTRinh172), N-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)-N'-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)urea (DASU-02), and methadone were examined by whole cell patch clamp on Cl(-) curr...

Previous studies have indicated that the ability to bind to fibronectin is a key feature in successful cell invasion by Campylobacter jejuni. Given the spatial distribution of fibronectin and the architecture of the epithelium, this suggests the possibility that C. jejuni cell invasion might preferentially occur at the basolateral cell surface. To test this hypothesis, we examined the interacti...

Helicobacter pylori infection can induce polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) infiltration of the gastric mucosa, which characterizes acute chronic gastritis. The mechanisms underlying this process are poorly documented. The lack of an in vitro model has considerably impaired the study of transepithelial migration of PMNL induced by H. pylori. In the present work, we used confluent polarized mono...

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) consists of a group of diarrhea-producing E. coli strains, common in developing countries, which do not produce classical toxins and are not truly invasive. EPEC strains adhere to mammalian cells in an intimate fashion, trigger a localized increase in intracellular calcium levels, and elevate inositol phosphate production. We hypothesized that these medi...

Human colonic epithelial cells express CXCR4, the sole cognate receptor for the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1/CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL) 12. The aim of this study was to define the mechanism and functional consequences of signaling intestinal epithelial cells through the CXCR4 chemokine receptor. CXCR4, but not SDF-1/CXCL12, was constitutively expressed by T84, HT-29, HT-29/-18...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the three leading causes for cancer mortality. CRC kills over 600,000 people annually worldwide. The most common cause of death from CRC is the metastasis to distant organs. However, biomarkers for CRC metastasis remain ill-defined. We compared primary and metastatic CRC cell lines for their angiogenesis-protein profiles and intracellular signaling profiles to ...

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) infection of T84 cells induces a decrease in transepithelial resistance, the formation of attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions, and cytokine production. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of EPEC to activate mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in T84 cells and to correlate these signaling pathways with EPEC-induced cell response...

Shiga toxin (Stx) produced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) binds to endothelial cells expressing globotriaosylceramide-3 (Gb-3) and induces cell death by inhibiting translation. Nonetheless, the effects of Stx on human enterocytes, which lacks receptor Gb-3, remain less known. In this study, we questioned whether EHEC-derived Stx may modulate cellular signalization in the Gb-3-nega...

Replication-competent adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) vectors promise to be more efficient gene delivery vehicles than their replication-deficient counterparts, and chimeric Ad5 vectors that are capable of targeting CD46 are more effective than Ad5 vectors with native fibers. Although several strategies have been used to improve gene transduction and oncolysis, either by modifying their tropism or enha...