Abstract

GARCIA, Jorge. Medición del aumento en volumen celular inducido por alfa hemolisina de E. Coli (HL y A) en leucocitos polimorfonucleares neutrófilos: efecto del calcio extracelular. Rev. costarric. cienc. méd [online]. 1999, vol.20, n.3-4, pp.141-152. ISSN 0253-2948.

Mean cell volume (MCV ) of polymorphonuclear neutrophils exposed to E. coli hemolytic supernatants increased in a dose dependent way.  E. coli alpha hemolysin (Hly A) is a membrane active cytotoxin which forms hydrophilic, cation selective pores upon insertion.  Cation movement through hemolisin pores result in net water movement into the target cell. lncreases in MCV were more pronounced when no calcium was added to the buffer on the PMN suspension, indicating calcium exerts a protective effect against Hly A induced damage.  Both the calcium ionophore A23187 and Hly A decreased cytoplasmic granularity of PMN, suggesting calcium influx through Hly A pores may interfere with PMN function in vivo and could amplify the inflammatory response to hemolytic E. coli.

Keywords : alpha hemolysin; Polymorphonuclear neutrophils.