Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection promotes apoptosis in piglets.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), as a universal pathogen, often causes diarrhea in animals and humans. However, whether ETEC infection induces apoptosis in host remains controversial. Herein, we use ETEC-infected piglet to investigate apoptosis in the jejunum. Apoptosis and the activation of capase-3 are observed in piglet jejunum after ETEC infection. Additionally, ETEC infection induces the activation of caspase-8 pathway, but inhibits the activation of caspase-9 pathway in piglet jejunum. These findings demonstrate that ETEC infection may inhibit the intrinsic pathway and activate the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis in piglets.