Evidence for cytoskeletal changes secondary to plasma membrane functional alterations in the in vitro cell response to Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin
To investigate the mode of action of Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin, MDCK cells were
treated with purified toxin and incubated at 37° C for up to 24h. Exposure to epsilon-toxin
caused a time-dependent decrease in cell–cell and cell–substrate interactions. After 30min
of treatment retraction of the cell body and the emission of filopodia were detectable in a
number of cells. Longer exposure resulted in cell rounding and cell blebbing which reached
a maximum after 5h of toxin treatment. A parallel modification in the cytoskeleton was also …
treated with purified toxin and incubated at 37° C for up to 24h. Exposure to epsilon-toxin
caused a time-dependent decrease in cell–cell and cell–substrate interactions. After 30min
of treatment retraction of the cell body and the emission of filopodia were detectable in a
number of cells. Longer exposure resulted in cell rounding and cell blebbing which reached
a maximum after 5h of toxin treatment. A parallel modification in the cytoskeleton was also …