A synthetic analog of
Shiga toxin (Stx) receptor (
Synsorb Pk) was quantitatively assessed to determine whether it can protect human
renal adenocarcinoma cells (ACHN cells) from the cytotoxicity of Stx1 and Stx2 by coincubation experiments. Coincubation of 100 and 20 ng of Stxl and Stx2 with 50 mg of
Synsorb Pk for 1 hr at 37 C in 1 ml of Eagle's Minimum Essential Medium supplemented with 1% (v/v) non-
essential amino acid and 10% (v/v)
fetal calf serum protected 50% of the cells from the cytotoxic effect.
Chromosorb P, an inert matrix control, did not absorb the Stxs at all. Heat-treatment (boiled for 10 min) to
Synsorb Pk caused a 50% decrease in Stx2-binding activity, but did not effect the Stx1 binding. Further, Stxs bound to
Synsorb Pk could be demonstrated. When 20 mg of
Synsorb Pk was coincubated for 30 min at 37 C in 1 ml of
phosphate-buffered saline with 1 and 10 ng or more of Stx1 or Stx2, respectively, the toxins could be detected on the surface when the bound toxins on
Synsorb Pk were used as the solid phase in
enzyme immunoassay. The amount of 100 ng/ml of both Stxl and Stx2 appeared to saturate 20 mg/ml of
Synsorb Pk after coincubating for 30 min at 37 C. While assessing the Stxs' binding activity to
Synsorb Pk, it was demonstrated that Stxl had a higher affinity to Pk
trisaccharide than Stx2. These observations provide useful information on the effectiveness of
Synsorb Pk to trap and eliminate free Stxs produced in the gut of patients infected by Stx-producing Escherichia coli, and to prevent the progression of hemorrhagic
colitis to
hemolytic uremic syndrome.