LDLR, LRP1, and Megalin redundantly participate in the uptake of Clostridium novyi alpha-toxin

Abstract

Clostridium novyi alpha-toxin (Tcnα) is a potent exotoxin that induces severe symptoms including gas gangrene, myositis, necrotic hepatitis, and sepsis. Tcnα binds to sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) for cell-surface attachment and utilizes low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) for rapid entry. However, it was also shown that Tcnα may use alternative entry receptors other than LDLR. Here, we define that LRP1 and Megalin can also facilitate the cellular entry of Tcnα by employing reconstitutive LDLR family proteins. LDLR, LRP1, and Megalin recognize Tcnα via their ligand-binding domains (also known as LDL receptor type A repeats). Notably, LDLR and LRP1 have contrasting expression levels in many different cells, thus the dominant entry receptor for Tcnα could be cell-type dependent. These findings together increase our knowledge of the Tcnα actions and further help to understand the pathogenesis of C. novyi infection-associated diseases.