title: Detection of staphylococcal superantigenic toxins by a CD69-specific cytofluorimetric assay measuring T-cell activation.
abstract: The presence of staphylococcal superantigenic toxins in the supernatants of liquid cultures was detected by an easy and rapid method assessing the activation of T lymphocytes by cytofluorimetric measurement of CD69 expression. Staphylococcus aureus cells were grown in Eagle's minimum essential medium supplemented with 5% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum. Supernatant fluids from all S. aureus strains producing superantigen-related toxins, including enterotoxins A to E, toxic shock syndrome toxin, and exfoliative toxins A and B, induced CD69 expression in a significantly higher number of T cells than a cutoff of 2%. This CD69 assay might be used for initial detection of superantigens from S. aureus strains isolated in the context of staphylococcal toxemia or related chronic human diseases such as atopic dermatitis or Kawasaki syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Référence des Staphylocoques, Faculté de Médecine, UPRES EA1655, Lyon, France. geralina@univ-lyon1.fr
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lina
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cozon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrandiz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Greenland
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vandenesch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Etienne
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D018089:Superantigens; D000099192:CD69 Antigens