Reduction of reactivity of Escherichia coli enterotoxins by intestinal mucosal components.

Incubation studies involving rabbit and piglet small intestinal mucosal components and Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae enterotoxins were conducted at 37 and 4 degrees C. Mucosal homogenate cytosol from rabbits did not significantly alter the reactivities of either cholera enterotoxin (CT) or E. coli labile enterotoxin (LT). However, mucosal homogenate cytosol from piglets was capable of neutralizing LT, though it had no effect on E. coli stable enterotoxin. LT became bound to piglet and rabbit microvillous membranes at 4 degrees C in the presence of a protective protein. In rabbits, the binding of LT was not dependent upon an intact glycocalyx or free unbound CT-receptors, although some binding was apparently associated with the glycocalyx and CT-receptors. These results indicated the presence of two different LT-receptors in microvillous membranes one being associated with the membrane proper and the other with the glycocalyx. Stable enterotoxin did not bind to in vitro preparations of piglet mucosal components, which is evidence for a different mechanism for inducing intestinal secretion.