Effects of and Toxins from Clostridium perfringens on Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

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Abstract
Twotoxins, α (phospholipase C) and θ (oxygen-labile hemolysin), were purified from Clostridium perfringens type A and assayed for toxic effects on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs). Crude preparations containing both toxins totally inhibited chemotaxis and chemiluminescence responses of PMNLs and reduced PMNL viability. Purified a toxin did not alter PMNL viability, chemotactic responsiveness, or morphology but did enhance opsonized zymosan-induced PMNL chemiluminescence over a wide range of toxin concentrations. θ Toxin, at 12.5 hemolytic units (HU) per 105 PMNLs, reduced cell viability and induced marked PMNL morphological changes. Concentrations of θ toxin between 4 and 32 HU per 105 PMNLs inhibited PMNL chemiluminescence in a dose-dependent manner, whereas a lower concentration enhanced the PMNL chemiluminescent response to opsonized zymosan. Effects on chemotaxis were also dose dependent. Increased PMNL random migration was observed at a concentration of θ toxin of 0.06 HU per 2.5 × 105 PMNLs (P < .05), whereas concentrations of > 0.08 HU per 2.5 × 105 PMNLs reduced both directed and random migration (P < .05).

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