Cytolethal distending toxin injures host defense mechanism

Abstract:

Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is an AB₂ toxin produced by a variety of Gram-negative bacteria. It was the first bacterial genotoxin described, encoding three polypeptides: CDTA, CDTB, and CDTC. CdtB is the active moiety that has the ability to damage multiple cell types. CDT has a new molecular mode of action, which can interfere with the progress of eukaryotic cell cycle, resulting in G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Such mechanism of action targets cells, and the available studies of CDT concentrate on the cellular level. However, CDT, as a virulence factor, ultimately causes pathogenic damage to the host, and the molecular mechanism of CDT-host interaction remains unclear. This paper comprehensively expounded the damage of CDT as a virulence factor to the host defense mechanism from three aspects, including damage to the epithelial barrier, acquired immunity, and promotion of inflammatory response, aiming to reveal the pathogenic mechanism of CDT and provide a theoretical basis and new ideas for clinical treatment.