title: Evidence for Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) inducing a mitogenic and cytokine response in vitro and a cytokine response in vivo.
abstract: We investigated some immunogenic properties of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) in vitro using murine J774A macrophages (MPhi) and in vivo using Swiss Webster (SW) mice. CPE was a potent mitogen in vitro, where cell proliferation increased with CPE concentration. CPE was nonmitogenic when MPhi were concurrently incubated with CPE and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). MPhi incubated in the presence of CPE induced the synthesis of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), but not interleukin-2 (IL-2). In vivo, CPE induced a pro-inflammatory cytokine response with striking production of IFN-gamma, IL-1, and IL-6. Regardless of route of CPE entry, serum cytokine levels generally peaked within 1 h of administration and were maintained for 4-8 h. Although CPE engenders an intense immune response during toxicosis, the toxin does not appear to be a superantigen. Death from CPE-induced shock appears to result from various interrelating immunological mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mach
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lindsay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004768:Enterotoxins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C035598:enterotoxin, Clostridium; D009569:Nitric Oxide