Involvement of tumour necrosis factor‐α in Clostridium perfringens β‐toxin‐induced plasma extravasation in mice

Background and purpose: Clostridium perfringens beta‐toxin, an important agent of necrotic enteritis, causes plasma extravasation due to the release of a tachykinin NK 1 receptor agonist in mouse skin. In this study, we investigated the role of cytokines in beta‐toxin‐induced plasma extravasation. Experimental approach: Male Balb/c, C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice were anaesthetized with pentobarbitone and beta‐toxin was injected i.d. into shaved dorsal skin. SR140333, capsaicin, chlorpromazine and pentoxifylline were given as pretreatment when required before the injection of the toxin. Cytokines in the dorsal skin were measured by ELISA. Key results: Injection (i.d.) of beta‐toxin induced a dose‐dependent increase in dermal TNF‐α and interleukin (IL)‐1β levels with a concomitant increase in plasma extravasation, but not the release of IL‐6. SR140333 and capsaicin significantly inhibited the toxin‐induced release of TNF‐α and IL‐1β. The plasma extravasation and the release of TNF‐α induced by beta‐toxin were significantly inhibited by chlorpromazine and pentoxifylline which inhibit the release of TNF‐α. The toxin‐induced plasma extravasation in mouse skin was attenuated by pretreatment with a monoclonal antibody against TNF‐α, but not anti‐IL‐1β. Furthermore, the toxin caused an increase in plasma extravasation in both C3H/HeN (TLR4‐intact) and C3H/HeJ (TLR4‐deficient) mice. In C3H/HeN mice, the toxin‐induced leakage was not inhibited by pretreatment with anti‐TLR4/MD‐2 antibody. Conclusions and implications: These observations show that beta‐toxin‐induced plasma extravasation in mouse skin is related to the release of TNF‐α via the mechanism involving tachykinin NK 1 receptors, but not via TLR4. British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153 , 1296–1302; doi: 10.1038/bjp.2008.9 ; published online 11 February 2008