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Inhibition of in vitro human lymphocyte response by the pneumococcal toxin pneumolysin.

Infection and Immunity, 01 Nov 1984, 46(2):585-589
https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.46.2.585-589.1984 PMID: 6389352 PMCID: PMC261575

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Abstract 

The effects of pneumolysin, a sulfhydryl-activated cytolytic toxin produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae, on the in vitro human lymphocyte response was examined. The toxin, at concentrations of one to five hemolytic units per ml, caused marked inhibition of the response of lymphocytes to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, and protein A. The response was assessed by measuring both [3H]thymidine incorporation and the ability of lymphocytes to produce immunoglobulins and lymphokine activity. The effects of pneumolysin were irreversible, could be prevented by pretreatment of the toxin with cholesterol, and were not related to a direct cytotoxic effect on the lymphocytes. Pneumolysin appeared to act at the initiation phase of the immune response and had no effect on lymphocytes committed to DNA synthesis or to the synthesis and secretion of immunoglobulins. Furthermore, pneumolysin-mediated inhibition of the lymphocyte response was not due to the inhibition of binding of mitogens to leukocytes and is likely to be related to effects on membrane-mediated signals essential for lymphocyte triggering. This may be one means by which pneumolysin plays a role in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal infections.

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Infect Immun. 1984 Nov; 46(2): 585–589.
PMCID: PMC261575
PMID: 6389352

Inhibition of in vitro human lymphocyte response by the pneumococcal toxin pneumolysin.

A Ferrante, B Rowan-Kelly, and J C Paton
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Abstract

The effects of pneumolysin, a sulfhydryl-activated cytolytic toxin produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae, on the in vitro human lymphocyte response was examined. The toxin, at concentrations of one to five hemolytic units per ml, caused marked inhibition of the response of lymphocytes to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, and protein A. The response was assessed by measuring both [3H]thymidine incorporation and the ability of lymphocytes to produce immunoglobulins and lymphokine activity. The effects of pneumolysin were irreversible, could be prevented by pretreatment of the toxin with cholesterol, and were not related to a direct cytotoxic effect on the lymphocytes. Pneumolysin appeared to act at the initiation phase of the immune response and had no effect on lymphocytes committed to DNA synthesis or to the synthesis and secretion of immunoglobulins. Furthermore, pneumolysin-mediated inhibition of the lymphocyte response was not due to the inhibition of binding of mitogens to leukocytes and is likely to be related to effects on membrane-mediated signals essential for lymphocyte triggering. This may be one means by which pneumolysin plays a role in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal infections.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
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