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. 1988 May;56(5):1107–1112. doi: 10.1128/iai.56.5.1107-1112.1988

Clostridium difficile toxins A and B inhibit human immune response in vitro.

W Däubener 1, E Leiser 1, C von Eichel-Streiber 1, U Hadding 1
PMCID: PMC259770  PMID: 3128476

Abstract

Two Clostridium difficile toxins isolated from strain VPI 10463 were tested for their effect on different human T-cell proliferation systems. In mitogen- and antigen-driven T-cell proliferation systems, toxins inhibited the proliferative response in a dose-dependent fashion. In interleukin-2-driven culture systems, no effect of toxins could be found on preactivated T cells. We suspected that monocytes were the influenced cells, since in antigen- and mitogen-driven systems monocytes were necessary for the proliferative response, whereas the interleukin-2-driven system was independent of monocytes. To prove this concept, purified monocytes were treated with toxins. The treatment was found to markedly reduce the capacity of monocytes to stimulate T-cell proliferation. No inhibition of the proliferative response was measured when, instead of monocytes, resting or preactivated T cells were treated with toxins. These experiments clearly show that C. difficile toxins interact with monocytes and not with T cells. The effect of toxins on cells of the immune system might be one factor in the development of pseudomembranous colitis.

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Selected References

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