Abstract

Background—Antisecretory factor (AF) is a recently identified regulatory protein which inhibits the intestinal fluid secretion induced by cholera toxin.

Aims—To test the effect of AF on: (a) inflammation and hypersecretion induced by toxin A fromClostridium difficile; and (b) morphological changes and hypersecretion induced by okadaic acid (the blue mussel toxin) in rat intestinal mucosa.

Methods—Morphological changes and fluid accumulation were observed in intestinal loops challenged with 1 μg of toxin A or 3  μg of okadaic acid administered before or after injection of 0.1  μg of recombinant AF (rAF).

Results—The cytotoxic and inflammatory reaction caused by toxin A was abolished after treatment with rAF given either intraveneously or intraluminally prior to the toxin or one hour after the toxin. The intestinal fluid response induced by toxin A and okadaic acid was reduced 55–80% by rAF. However, the characteristic increase in goblet cells at the tips of villi in the okadaic acid treated mucosa was not inhibited by rAF.

Conclusion—Results suggest that AF might be involved in protection against inflammation and in counteracting dehydration caused by enterotoxins. Both effects are probably mediated via the enteric nervous system.