Cell wall components of Staphylococcus aureus induce interleukin-5 production in patients with atopic dermatitis

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and peptidoglycan (PEG) from Staphylococcus aureus induced interleukin-5 (IL-5) production in human peripheral blood mononucle ar cells (PBMC) from patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) but not in PBMC f rom healthy donors. The production of IL-5 induced by LTA or PEG was correl ated with the expression of IL-5 mRNA in PBMC. Furthermore, the level of IL -5 production induced by treatment with both LTA and PEG from S. aureus was higher than that induced by the addition of each alone. These results sugg est that LTA and PEG have an additive effect on IL-5 production in PBMC fro m AD patients and may explain the role of colonization with nontoxin-produc ing strains of S. aureus in these patients.