Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid Inhibits <b><i>Vibrio Vulnificus</i></b>-Induced Dendritic Cell Apoptosis by Lowering [Ca²⁺]_i

Abstract

Background/Aims: Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) is a Gram-negative marine bacterium that can cause life-threatening primary septicemia, especially in the innate immune system. But how V. vulnificus affects and acts on dendritic cells (DC) is not well understood. The aim of the present study is to investigate [Ca²⁺]_i change and the expression of the mTor-STAT3-Bcl-2 signaling pathway in V. vulnificus B2-induced DC apoptosis, and explore the protective effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) against DC apoptosis in a V. vulnificus B2 and DC2.4 cell coculture infection model, using EDTA as an intervenient. Methods: The apoptosis rate, [Ca²⁺]_i, and the expression of STAT3, m-Tor and Bcl-2 were detected by cytometry, Fluo-8-AM and Western blotting respectively. Results: The results demonstrated that EDTA inhibited the increase of [Ca²⁺]_i, upregulated the expression of m-Tor-STAT3-Bcl-2 signaling pathway, and protected DC against V. vulnificus B2-induced apoptosis. Conclusions: EDTA inhibits V. Vulnificus-induced DC apoptosis by lowering [Ca²⁺]_i via m-Tor-STAT3-Bcl-2 signaling pathway.