Figure 6. The effect of LALP on subendothelial cells.

Rabbit subendothelial cells were exposed to LALP (5.0 μg/ml) for 3 or 16 h. As a negative control, cells were grown under similar conditions and incubated with a recombinant toxin devoid of proteolytic activity, but obtained under similar conditions as for LALP. Morphological alterations of cells were observed under an inverted microscope. For LALP toxin-treated cells, cell spreading appears to be impaired, detachment from the substrate was observed, and cells were round and originated aggregates of debris in a time-dependent manner compared with absence of cytotoxic effects in the control sample (magnification ×200).