Study of the Biological Activities of Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin‐1

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Abstract
The mitogenic and interleukin 2 (IL 2) production-inducing effects of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) on murine lymphocytes were investigated. TSST-1, an exotoxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus recovered from patients with toxic shock syndrome (TSS), is thought to be a causative agent of the syndrome. TSST-1 was mitogenic for splenic T cells and peanut agglutinin (PNA)-negative thymocytes, but not for T cell-depleted spleen cells, PNA-positive thymocytes or IL 2-dependent CTLL 2-cells. A factor mitogenic for CTCC-2 cells with a molecular weight of 30-35 kdaltons was obtained by stimulating spleen cells with TSST-1 and it was absorbed by CTLL-2 cells, indicating that the factor is IL-2. For substantial amounts of IL 2 to be produced, 10 ng or more of TSST-1 per ml and 48 hr or more of incubation were required. Removal of T cells abrogated the IL-2 production by spleen cells. T cells obtained by the nylon wool column method alone produced IL 2 on TSST-1 stimulation in the presence of either macrophages or a macrophage lysate containing interleukin 1. However, T cells obtained by a combination of the nylon wool column method and anti-Ia antibody treatment produced IL 2 in the presence of macrophages but not of the macrophage lysate, indicating that IL 2 production by TSST-1-stimulated T cells is absolutely dependent on the presence of accessory cells.