Intestinal Epithelial Cell Apoptosis followingCryptosporidium parvumInfection

Abstract
Cryptosporidium parvuminduces moderate levels of apoptosis of cultured human intestinal epithelial cells, which are maximal at 24 h after infection. Apoptosis is further increased inC. parvum-infected cells by inhibition of NF-κB.C. parvuminfection also attenuates epithelial apoptosis induced by strongly proapoptotic agents. The data suggestC. parvumhas developed strategies to limit apoptosis in order to facilitate its growth and maturation in the early period after epithelial cell infection.