Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.
Science Signaling

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Sci. STKE, 13 June 2000
Vol. 2000, Issue 36, p. tw4
[DOI: 10.1126/stke.2000.36.tw4]

EDITORS' CHOICE

INFLAMMATION Bacteria Signal Kidney Damage

Abstract:

Certain strains of E. coli cause inflammation in the kidney and contribute to renal failure. Uhlén et al. identified {alpha}-hemolysin as a secreted factor produced by uropathogenic bacteria that induced calcium oscillations in cultured renal proximal tubule cells and renal epithelial cells. Inhibitors of L-type Ca2+ channels or inhibitors of IP3 receptors blocked the calcium oscillations. Application of {alpha}-hemolysin to renal epothelial cells led to an increase in the secretion of the inflammatory mediators interleukin-6 and interleukin-8. The authors suggest that during early phases of infection, kidney damage arises not by cytolysis, but by the stimulation of inflammatory cytokines by {alpha}-hemolysin.

Uhlén, P., Laestadlus, Å., Jahnukainen, T., Söderblom, T., Bäckhed, F., Celsi, G., Brismar, H., Normark, S., Aperia, A., and Richter-Dahlfors, A. {alpha}-haemolysin of uropathogenic E. coli induces Ca2+ oscillations in renal epithelial cells. Nature 405: 694-697. [Online Journal]

Citation: Bacteria Signal Kidney Damage. Sci. STKE 2000, tw4 (2000).

Read the Full Text

ADVERTISEMENT
Click Me!

ADVERTISEMENT
Click Me!

To Advertise     Find Products

Science Signaling. ISSN 1937-9145 (pre-2008: Science's STKE. ISSN 1525-8882)