CLOSTRIDIUM-PERFRINGENS ENTEROTOXIN LACKS SUPERANTIGENIC ACTIVITY BUTINDUCES AN INTERLEUKIN-6 RESPONSE FROM HUMAN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS

We investigated the potential superantigenic properties of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) on human peripheral blood mononuclear c ells (PBMC). In contrast to the findings of a previous report (P. Bown ess, P. A. H. Moss, H. Tranter, J. I. Bell, and A. J. McMichael, J. Ex p. Med. 176:893-896, 1992), two different, biologically active prepara tions of CPE had no mitogenic effects on PBMC. Furthermore, PBMC incub ated with various concentrations of CPE did not elicit interleukin-l, interleukin-2, gamma interferon, or tumor necrosis factor alpha or bet a, which are cytokines commonly associated with superantigenic stimula tion. However, CPE did cause a dose-related release of interleukin-6 f rom PBMC cultures.