ArticleNeuroscience insights2020
Anthrax Protective Antigen 63 (PA63): Toxic Effects in Neural Cultures and Role in Gulf War Illness (GWI).
Article in Neuroscience insights, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 18 citations in OpenAlex.
- Gulf War Illness, Fibromyalgia, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID Overlap in Common Symptoms and Underlying Biological Mechanisms: Implications for Future Therapeutic Strategies.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
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- Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) at the Root of Persistent Antigens and Long COVID.Journal of immunological sciences · 2025Article
- Article
- At the Root of 3 "Long" Diseases: Persistent Antigens Inflicting Chronic Damage on the Brain and Other Organs in Gulf War Illness, Long-COVID-19, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.Neuroscience insights · 2022Review
- Protective Effect of Stem Cells from Toxicity Induced by Gulf War Illness (GWI) Serum in N2A Neuroblastoma Cells.Journal of neurology & neuromedicine · 2021Article
- Lupus Anticoagulant in Gulf War Illness and Autoimmune Disorders: A Common Pathway Toward Autoimmunity.Journal of immunological sciences · 2021Article
- Vaccines for Influenza.Vaccines · 2021Article
- Harnessing the Membrane Translocation Properties of AB Toxins for Therapeutic Applications.Toxins · 2021Review
- C-Reactive Protein is Associated with Brain White Matter Anomalies in Gulf War Illness.Journal of neurology & neuromedicine · 2020Article
- Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Alleles Prevent Metabolically-Induced Inflammation and Cerebrocortical Thinning in Gulf War Illness.Journal of neurology & neuromedicine · 2020Article
- Gulf War Illness: C-Reactive Protein is Associated with Reduction of the Volume of Hippocampus and Decreased Fractional Anisotropy of the Fornix.Journal of neurology & neuromedicine · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Protective antigen (PA) 63 (PA63) is a protein derived from the PA83 component contained in the anthrax vaccine. The anthrax vaccine ("Biothrax") was administered together with other vaccines to Gulf War veterans, about 35% of whom later developed a multisymptom disease (Gulf War Illness [GWI]), with prominent neurological/cognitive/mood symptoms, among others. The disease has been traditionally attributed to exposures to toxic chemicals during the war but other factors could be involved, including vaccines received. Of these, the anthrax vaccine is the most toxic. Here, we assessed directly the PA63 toxin's harmful effects on cultured neuroblastoma 2A (N2A) cells with respect to cell spreading, process formation, apoptosis, and integrity of cell membrane, cytoskeleton, and mitochondria. We found that, when added in N2A cultures, PA63 toxin led to decreased cell spreading and cell aggregation, leading to apoptosis. The mechanisms of PA63-induced cell damage included compromised cell membrane permeability indicated by enhanced access of propidium iodide in cells. In addition, signaling pathways leading to organization of N2A cytoskeleton were negatively affected, as both actin and microtubular networks were compromised. Finally, the mitochondrial membrane potential was impaired in specific assays. Altogether, these alterations led to apoptosis as a collective toxic effect of PA63 which was substantially reduced by the concomitant addition of specific antibodies against PA63.
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