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World J Diabetes. Jun 15, 2013; 4(3): 70-75
Published online Jun 15, 2013. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v4.i3.70
Published online Jun 15, 2013. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v4.i3.70
Caribbean maitotoxin elevates [Ca2+]i and activates non-selective cation channels in HIT-T15 cells
Xin-Zhong Lu, Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, United States
Robert Deckey, Food and Drug Administration of United States, Mobile, AL 36609, United States
Guo-Liang Jiao, Hui-Feng Ren, Convelscent Hospital, Xingcheng 125100, Liaoning Province, China
Ming Li, Department of Physiology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States
Author contributions: Lu XZ performed the majority of experiments; Deckey R, Jiao GL and Ren HF provided vital reagents and analytical tools and were also involved in editing the manuscript; Li M designed the study and wrote the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Dr. Ming Li, Department of Physiology, Tulane University, Health Sciences Center, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States. mli@tulane.edu
Telephone: +1-504-9888207 Fax: +1-504-9882675
Received: December 21, 2012
Revised: March 28, 2013
Accepted: April 13, 2013
Published online: June 15, 2013
Processing time: 70 Days and 11.2 Hours
Revised: March 28, 2013
Accepted: April 13, 2013
Published online: June 15, 2013
Processing time: 70 Days and 11.2 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: The toxicity of maitotoxin is estimated to affect over 50000 people annually. Baracuda, snapper, grouper, jacks, and moray eel are particularly notorious for their potential to carry high toxin load. The symptoms of the toxicity include numbness of the perioral area and extremities, reversal of temperature sensation, muscle and joint aches, headache, itching tachycardia, hypertension, blurred vision, and paralysis. Our study aims to elucidate the cellular toxic mechanism of caribbean maitotoxin in mammalian cells. We conclude that it causes opening of non-selective, non-voltage activated ion channels, which elevates level of intracellular calcium concentration and leads to cellular toxicities.