Pathologic changes in mice induced by subtilase cytotoxin, a potent new Escherichia coli AB5 toxin that targets the endoplasmic reticulum.

Subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB) is the prototype of a recently discovered AB(5) cytotoxin family produced by certain strains of Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC). The catalytic A subunit is a highly specific subtilase-like serine protease that cleaves the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone BiP. The toxin is lethal for mice, but the pathology it induces is poorly understood. Here, we show that intraperitoneal injection of SubAB causes microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal impairment in mice--characteristics typical of Shiga toxin-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome. SubAB caused extensive microvascular thrombosis and other histologic damage in the brain, kidneys, and liver, as well as dramatic splenic atrophy. Peripheral blood leukocyte levels were increased at 24 h; there was also significant neutrophil infiltration in the liver, kidneys, and spleen and toxin-induced apoptosis at these sites. These findings raise the possibility that SubAB directly contributes to pathology in humans infected with strains of STEC that produce both Shiga toxin and SubAB.