Intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis following Cryptosporidium parvum infection.

Cryptosporidium parvum induces moderate levels of apoptosis of cultured human intestinal epithelial cells, which are maximal at 24 h after infection. Apoptosis is further increased in C. parvum-infected cells by inhibition of NF-kappaB. C. parvum infection also attenuates epithelial apoptosis induced by strongly proapoptotic agents. The data suggest C. parvum has developed strategies to limit apoptosis in order to facilitate its growth and maturation in the early period after epithelial cell infection.