The pathogenesis of chronic cyclosporine A (CsA) nephrotoxicity has not been elucidated, but apoptosis is thought to play an important role in CsA induced tubular atrophy. Recently Fas-Fas ligand system mediated apoptosis has been frequently reported in many epithelial cells as well as in T lymphocytes. We investigated the ability of CsA to induce apoptosis in cultured human proximal tubular ep...

Formation of transmembrane pores by staphylococcal alpha-toxin can provoke a spectrum of events depending on target cell species and toxin dose, and in certain cases, repair of the lesions has been observed. Here, we report that transcriptional processes are activated as a response of cells to low toxin doses. Exposure of monocytic (THP-1) or epithelial (ECV304) cells to 40 to 160 ng/ml alpha-t...

Calcineurin has recently been implicated as a mediator in the signaling pathways that transform intracellular calcium signals to the phenotype of myocardial hypertrophy. The present study was conducted to examine the effects of cyclosporin A (CsA), an inhibitor of calcineurin, on myocardial hypertrophy and remodeling during congestive heart failure (CHF) in rats. After ligation of the left coro...

Formation of transmembrane pores by staphylococcal alpha-toxin can provoke a spectrum of events depending on target cell species and toxin dose, and in certain cases, repair of the lesions has been observed. Here, we report that transcriptional processes are activated as a response of cells to low toxin doses. Exposure of monocytic (THP-1) or epithelial (ECV304) cells to 40 to 160 ng/ml alpha-t...

Staphylococcal alpha-toxin is an important virulence factor for Staphylococcus aureus to cause severe infections. In this study, we explored whether the toxoid of alpha-toxin may be utilized to block the toxicity of wild-type alpha-toxin. We created a series of H35A mutated alpha-toxin expression strains and revealed that the H35A mutation eliminates the activity of alpha-toxin using a human lu...

For over 30 years a phospholipase C enzyme called alpha-toxin was thought to be the key virulence factor in necrotic enteritis caused by Clostridium perfringens. However, using a gene knockout mutant we have recently shown that alpha-toxin is not essential for pathogenesis. We have now discovered a key virulence determinant. A novel toxin (NetB) was identified in a C. perfringens strain isolate...

Cyclosporin A (CsA), a potent immunosuppressor used in organ transplants and autoimmune diseases, is associated with adverse effects in the kidney, liver, and nervous system. This drug was recently shown to stimulate platelet aggregation, to increase thromboxane synthesis, and to decrease vascular prostacyclin synthesis. In experimental cholestasis, thrombocyte function is altered. The present ...

An Indian elephant (Elephas maximus) which died of acute fatal myonecrosis was examined to determine the aetiology of the infection. The causative organism was identified as Clostridium perfringens type A. Out of five genes encoding for major toxins (cpa, cpb, etx, iA, and cpe genes) the isolate was found to harbour the cpa gene only, as tested by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. It flanks ...

A reporter system was constructed to enable the study of gene expression in Clostridium perfingens. The system was based on plasmid shuttle vector pJIR410, which contained the C. perfringens erythromycin resistance gene. The vector was modified by the introduction of a DNA fragment comprising the open reading frame of the C. perfringens chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene and flanking transc...

OBJECTIVES We examined the effects of oral administration of vitamin E, an antioxidant, on endothelium-dependent vasodilation in patients with coronary spastic angina. BACKGROUND We have recently reported that endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in patients with coronary spastic angina (CSA). Furthermore, it is known that oxidative stress may play an important role in the impairmen...