Ge Z, Schauer DB, Fox JG
In vivo virulence properties of bacterial cytolethal distending toxin. [JOURNAL ARTICLE]
Cell Microbiol 2008 May 16.
Multiple pathogenic gram-negative bacteria produce cytolethal distending toxins (CDTs). CDT is typically composed of three subunits: the catalytic subunit CdtB has DNase I-like activity, whereas CdtA and CdtC are binding proteins for delivering CdtB into target cells. Translocation of CdtB to the nucleus induces genotoxic effects on host DNA, triggering DNA repair cascades that lead to cell cycle arrest and eventual cell death. Several lines of evidence indicate that this toxin contributes to the pathogenecity of CDT-producing bacteria in vivo. Helicobacter hepaticus and Campylobacter jejuni CDTs are essential for persistent infection of the gastrointestinal tract and increase the severity of mucosal inflammation or liver disease in susceptible mouse strains. Haemorphilus ducery CDT may contribute to the pathogenesis of chancroid in rabbits. Recently, H. hepaticus CDT has been shown to play a crucial role in promoting the progression of infectious hepatitis to premalignant, dysplastic lesions via activation of a proinflammatory NF-kappaB pathway and increased proliferation of hepatocytes, providing the first evidence that CDT has carcinogenic potential in vivo. Thus, both in vitro and in vivo data indicate that CDT is a bacterial virulence factor.
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