Effects of Escherichia coli hemolysin on human monocytes. Cytocidal action and stimulation of interleukin 1 release.

Abstract This study reports on the potent cytocidal and interleukin-1 releasing properties of Escherichia coli hemolysin (ECH) on human monocytes. Nanomolar concentrations of purified ECH (250-2,000 ng/ml) caused rapid and irreversible depletion of cellular ATP to levels below 20% of controls within 60 min. Subcytocidal doses (10-200 ng/ml) of ECH induced rapid release within 60-120 min of large amounts of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) from cultured monocytes. IL-1 beta release occurred in the presence of actinomycin D and cycloheximide, and was thus probably due to processing and export of intracellular IL-1 beta precursor. Incubation of toxin-producing E. coli at ratios of only 0.3-3 col…