An apoptotic response by J774 macrophage cells is common upon infection with diarrheagenic Escherichia coli

Representative strains of the different diarrheagenic Escherichia coli viro types were tested for their potential cytotoxicity in the J774 macrophage c ell line. All the seven virotypes of E. coli were cytotoxic to J774 macroph ages, and in most cases the bacteria induced an apoptotic response. With th e exception of the enterotoxigenic E. coil (ETEC) strain, all the other six virotypes caused induction of apoptosis as evidenced by quantitative analy sis of the characteristic DNA fragmentation at the individual cell level. T hese results suggest that apoptosis could be one of the mechanisms contribu ting to the diarrheal disease development. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.