Retention of toxin A biological activity after labelling was assessed by the ability to induce rounding in green african monkey kidney (Vero) and human colonic carcinoma (Caco-2) cells, as previously described [24, 29]. Specificity of toxin A488 fluorescence was assessed using PCG-4 anti-toxin A antibody [14]

conjugated to beads, as previously described [10]. Assessment of surface and internalized toxin A488-associated fluorescence in peripheral blood cells.  Isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) and washed whole check details blood cells from healthy donors were used. PBMNCs were isolated from venous blood samples by density gradient centrifugation using Histopaque (Sigma, Gillingham, UK). The PBMNCs were washed with Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI medium 1640; Gibco Invitrogen, Paisley, UK) and resuspended in RPMI containing 10% foetal calf serum (FCS). Cells (1 × 106) were incubated (at 37 or 4 °C), for varying time intervals, in

the presence or absence of toxin A488 (at final concentration of 1 μg/ml). After washing cells in PBS, the PBMNCs were fixed in 3% formaldehyde. In some studies, the cells were labelled with ECD (electrocoupled dye: phycoerythrin/texas red tandem conjugate)-anti-CD14 antibody (Immunotech, Marseille, France) for 30 min. After washing with phosphate-buffered albumin (PBA; PBS containing 1% bovine serum albumin and 0.05% sodium azide), GPCR Compound Library price the cells were prepared for flow cytometry by resuspension in 0.5 ml of 0.5% formaldehyde. Samples of whole blood cells were washed twice with prewarmed (to 37 °C) RPMI, and aliquots were incubated (at 37 °C or on ice), for varying time intervals, in the presence or absence of toxin A488 (at final concentration of 255 ng/ml). In the last 15 min of each incubation period, anti-CD14-ECD antibody (Beckman Coulter, Buckinghamshire, UK) was added. Red cells

were subsequently lysed using a lysing solution (Optilyse® C; Beckman Coulter), which also contains fixative. Following washes in PBA, the cells were resuspended in 0.5 ml of 0.5% formaldehyde. In some experiments, the ability of trypan blue to quench cell surface–associated fluorescence [31] Fossariinae was investigated. Thus, fluorescence of toxin A488-exposed cells was determined in the absence and presence of trypan blue (from Merck Chemicals; final concentration 2 mg/ml). Flow cytometry.  Samples were analysed with a Beckman Coulter Altra flow cytometer (Beckman Coulter, High Wycombe, UK) equipped with a 488-nm argon ion laser. The green fluorescence (toxin A488) was collected with a 530 nm-band pass (BP) filter. Adjusted fluorescence level of gated toxin A488-exposed cells was determined by subtracting median fluorescence of control cells (incubated with buffer only) from the fluorescence value of cells exposed to toxin A488. Statistical analysis.  Data are expressed as mean (±standard error of the mean) and were analysed by analysis of variance (anova) and paired or unpaired Student’s t-test. A P value of <0.