Figure 6

α-Toxin increases expression of GM1 in erythroblasts. (A) BMCs were labeled with Alexa Fluor 647-CTB and specific antibodies against CD71 and TER119. The cells were analyzed using a Guava easyCyte, and fluorescence of Alexa Fluor 647-CTB in three different populations (CD71⁺TER119⁻, CD71⁺TER119⁺, and CD71⁻TER119⁺ cells) was determined. (B) A total of 5 × 10⁶ bone marrow cells were treated with 100 ng/ml α-toxin (Wild-type) or a variant α-toxin, H148G (H148G), for 24 hours, and the cells were labeled as described above. Fluorescence of Alexa Fluor 647-CTB in the CD71⁺TER119⁻ cell population was determined, and the mean fluorescence intensity was compared with that of α-toxin-untreated cells (Control). One-way ANOVA was employed to assess statistical significance. Values are mean ± standard deviation. *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001.