toxins Article Combined Action of Shiga Toxin Type 2 and Subtilase Cytotoxin in the Pathogenesis of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Romina S. Álvarez 1, Fernando D. Gómez 1, Elsa Zotta 1,2, Adrienne W. Paton 3, James C. Paton 3, Cristina Ibarra 1 , Flavia Sacerdoti 1 and María M. Amaral 1,* 1 Laboratorio de Fisiopatogenia, Departamento de Fisiología, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay (IFIBIO Houssay-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina;
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[email protected] (F.S.) 2 Cátedra de Fisiopatología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina 3 Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia;
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[email protected]; Tel.: +54-11-5285-3280 Abstract: Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) produces Stx1 and/or Stx2, and Subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB). Since these toxins may be present simultaneously during STEC infections, the purpose of this work was to study the co-action of Stx2 and SubAB. Stx2 + SubAB was assayed in vitro on monocultures and cocultures of human glomerular endothelial cells (HGEC) with a human proximal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2) and in vivo in mice after weaning. The effects in vitro of both toxins, co-incubated and individually, were similar, showing that Stx2 and SubAB contribute similarly to renal cell damage.