Dexamethasone attenuates staphylococcal enterotoxin B-induced hypothermic response and protects mice from superantigen-induced toxic shock.
The superantigenic staphylococcal enterotoxins are important virulence factors and contribute to various diseases, including food poisoning and toxic shock. Dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory agent, attenuated staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-induced hypothermia and serum proinflammatory cytokines and improved survival from 0% to 86% in a lethal mouse model of SEB-mediated shock.
Krakauer
Teresa
T
Integrated Toxicology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland 21702-5011, USA. teresa.krakauer@det.amedd.army.mil
Buckley
Marilyn
M
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000503:physiopathology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000633:toxicity*
D016207:Cytokines; D004768:Enterotoxins; D018089:Superantigens; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D003907:Dexamethasone