Are B lymphocytes of importance in severe Staphylococcus aureus infections?

• To investigate the role of B cells in experimental, superantigen-mediated Staphylococcus aureus arthritis and sepsis, we used gene-targeted B-cell-deficient mice. The mice were inoculated intravenously with a toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1)-producing S. aureus strain. The B-cell-deficient and thus agamma-globulinemic mice showed striking similarities to the wild-type control animals with respect to the development of arthritis, the mortality rate, and the rate of bacterial clearance. Surprisingly, we found that the levels of gamma interferon in serum were significantly lower (P < 0. 0001) in B-cell-deficient mice than in the controls, possibly due to impaired superantigen presentation and a diminished expression of costimulatory molecules. In contrast, the levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, and IL-10 in serum were equal in both groups. Our findings demonstrate that neither mature B cells nor their products significantly contribute to the course of S. aureus-induced septic arthritis.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reumatologi och inflammation (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Rheumatology and Autoimmunity (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Animals

Arthritis

Infectious

immunology

microbiology

pathology

physiopathology

B-Lymphocytes

immunology

Disease Models

Animal

Female

Interferon-gamma

biosynthesis

Male

Mice

Mice

Inbred C57BL

Sepsis

immunology

microbiology

pathology

physiopathology

Staphylococcal Infections

immunology

microbiology

pathology

physiopathology

Staphylococcus aureus

immunology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)