As. Mach et Ja. Lindsay, ACTIVATION OF CLOSTRIDIUM-PERFRINGENS CYTOTOXIC ENTEROTOXIN(S) IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO - ROLE IN TRIGGERS FOR SUDDEN INFANT DEATH, Current microbiology, 28(5), 1994, pp. 261-267
The action of Clostridium perfringens cytotoxic enterotoxins may be ac
tivated/exacerbated both in vivo and in vitro by the addition of an ac
tivator molecule present in a brush border membrane fraction isolated
from young rabbits. Increased concentrations of the activator could be
induced by immunologically stimulating rabbits with Ribi adjuvant. Co
mparative studies suggested that the activator was interferon-gamma (I
FN-gamma). In vitro IFN-gamma sensitized cell lines apparently by enha
ncement of cell permeability, which allowed a more rapid uptake of the
toxins, resulting in cell death at lower toxin concentrations. Viral
and/or bacterial infections are inducers of IFNs. We propose that some
immunologically immature infants are predisposed to infection. In the
weeks prior to death, these infants may suffer from an infection that
induces the synthesis of IFNs, sensitizing the infant to a more virul
ent infection and possible sudden death.