Abstract
The normal intestinal epithelium is renewed with a turnover rate of 3–5 days. During Salmonella infection increased cell loss is observed, possibly as a result of programmed cell death (PCD). We have, therefore, studied the effects of Salmonella Typhimurium infection on three elements involved in PCD: caspase-3 activation, c-Jun phosphorylation on serine 63 (both detected by immunocytochemistry), and DNA fragmentation (detected by TUNEL reaction), using a pig jejunal loop model. Additionally, we used nuclear staining for detecting signs of classical apoptosis. Activated caspase-3 was detected in scattered epithelial cells and the number of positive cells increased with increasing times of exposure to Salmonella (P<0.0001). An increase in phospho-c-Jun in epithelial cells was already detectable 5 min after infection and often occurred in cells that appeared not to be invaded by the organism. Changes in caspase-3 activation and c-Jun phosphorylation were most marked in the proximal region of the jejunum. Although rarely observed in the epithelium, proper TUNEL-positive cells were frequently found in the intestinal lumen. Some, but not all, TUNEL-positive cells were also positive for caspase-3, indicating that both caspase-3-dependent and -independent pathways of PCD increased upon infection.
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The technical assistance of Helle Anita Vestergaard Ruby and Tony Bønnelycke is gratefully acknowledged. This study was supported by the Danish Agricultural and Veterinary Research Council.
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Schauser, K., Olsen, J.E. & Larsson, LI. Salmonella Typhimurium infection in the porcine intestine: evidence for caspase-3-dependent and -independent programmed cell death. Histochem Cell Biol 123, 43–50 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-004-0731-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-004-0731-8