Monocytes serve as Shiga toxin carriers during the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome.

ABSTRACT: Shiga toxin (Stx)-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) poses a life-threatening complication for which a definitive treatment remains elusive. To exert its cytotoxic effect on renal cells, Stx must be delivered from the infected intestines to the kidney. However, the mechanism underlying Stx delivery remains unclear. Here we pinpoint monocytes as the primary carriers responsible for transporting Stx2 to the renal region. Through single-cell sequencing analysis of Stx2-B-bound peripheral white blood cells sorted by flow cytometry, we observe that nearly all monocytes exhibit strong Stx2-B binding, whereas less than 10% of neutrophils are associated with Stx2-B, albeit with a lower affinity. Further examination of the single-cell dataset and cell binding assays suggest that monocytes like

SUBMITTER: Sun X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11773931 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature