Direct evidence of mast cell involvement in Clostridium difficile toxin A-induced enteritis in mice

B. K. Wershil*, I. Castagliuolo, C. Pothoulakis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

108 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and Aims: The pathogenesis of Clostridium difficile toxin A- induced intestinal inflammation is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to define the contribution of mast cells to the fluid secretion and neutrophil infiltration associated with toxin A-induced enteritis. Methods: Fluid secretion and neutrophil infiltration in toxin A- or buffer-challenged ileal loops were assessed in normal, mast cell-deficient, and mast cell- deficient Kit(W)/Kit(W-v) mice that had undergone selective repair of their mast cell deficiency. The effect of a specific substance P-receptor antagonist was also studied. Results: Intestinal fluid secretion and neutrophil recruitment were significantly diminished in mast cell-deficient Kit(W)/Kit(W-v) and mast cell-deficient Mgf(SI)/Mgf(SI-d) mice compared with the respective normal mice. Mast cell-reconstituted Kit(W)/Kit(W-v) mice showed responses similar to the normal congenic mice. Administration of a specific substance P-receptor antagonist (CP-96,345) reduced toxin A-induced intestinal fluid secretion and inhibited neutrophil infiltration in normal, mast cell-deficient Kit(W)/Kit(W-v) and mast cell-reconstituted Kit(W)/Kit(W- v) mice. Conclusions: C. difficile toxin A elicits intestinal fluid secretion and neutrophil infiltration by both mast cell-dependent and -independent pathways, and substance P participates in both pathways.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)956-964
Number of pages9
JournalGastroenterology
Volume114
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology

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