Ouabain Protects Human Renal Cells against the Cytotoxic Effects of Shiga Toxin Type 2 and Subtilase Cytotoxin

AMARAL MARÍA MARTA; PATON ADRIENNE; SACERDOTI FLAVIA; ALVAREZ ROMINA; REPETTO HORACIO A; GIRARD MAGALI; PATON JAMES; IBARRA CRISTINA

Toxins (Basel)

Basel : MDPI

Lugar: Berna; Año: 2017 vol. 9

2072-6651

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is one of the most common causes of acute renal failure in children. The majority of cases are associated with Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC). In Argentina, HUS is endemic and presents the highest incidence rate in the world. STEC strains expressing Stx2 are responsible for the most severe cases of this pathology. Subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB) is another STEC virulence factor that may contribute to HUS pathogenesis. So far, neither a licensed vaccine nor effective therapy for HUS is available for humans. Considering that Ouabain (OUA) may prevent the apoptosis process, in this study we evaluated if OUA can be able to avoid the damage caused by Stx2 and SubAB on human glomerular endothelial cells (HGEC) and HK-2 cell line. HGEC and HK-2 were pretreated with OUA and then incubated with the toxins. OUA protected the HGEC viability from Stx2 and SubAB cytotoxic effects and also prevented the HK-2 viability from Stx2 effects. The protective action of OUA on HGEC and HK-2 was associated with a decrease in apoptosis and an increase in cell proliferation. Our data provide evidence that OUA could be considered as a therapeutic strategy to avoid the renal damage that precedes HUS.