Open AccessClostridium perfringens invasiveness is enhanced by effects of theta toxin upon PMNL structure and function: The role of leukocytotoxicity and expression of CD11/CD18 adherence glycoprotein
Author(s) -
Bryant Amy E.,
Bergstrom Roberta,
Zimmerman Guy A.,
Salyer Jonny L.,
Hill Harry R.,
Tweten Rodney K.,
Sato Hiroko,
Stevens Dennis L.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1993.tb00414.x
Subject(s) - clostridium perfringens , toxin , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , chemotaxis , virulence factor , immunology , virulence , biochemistry , bacteria , receptor , genetics , gene
Clostridium perfringens infections are characterized by the lack of an inflammatory response at the site of infection and rapidly progressive margins of tissue necrosis. Studies presented here investigated the role of theta toxin from C. perfringens in the pathophysiology of these events. Mice passively immunized with neutralizing monoclonal antibody against theta toxin and challenged with an LD 100 of log phase C. perfringens had significantly less mortality than untreated controls. Intramuscular injection of killed, washed C. perfringens in mice induced a massive time‐dependent influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) into tissue; injection of either viable, washed C. perfringens or killed organisms plus theta toxin dramatically attenuated PMNL influx although PMNL accumulated in adjacent vessels. The anti‐inflammatory effects could not be attributed to an absence of chemoattractants since C. perfringens proteins had chemotactic factor activity, and killed bacilli generated serum‐derived chemotactic factors. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the dramatic leukocidal effects of high doses of theta toxin on PMNL. In contrast, sublethal concentrations of theta toxin primed PMNL chemiluminescence, disrupted PMNL cytoskeletal actin polymerization/disassembly, and stimulated functional upregulation of CD11b/CD18 adherence glycoprotein. In summary, these results demonstrate that theta toxin is an important virulence factor in C. perfringens infection. In a concentration‐dependent fashion, theta toxin contributes to the pathogenesis of clostridial gangrene by direct destruction of host inflammatory cells and tissues, and by promoting dysregulated PMNL/endothelial cell adhesive interactions.