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Channel-Forming Leucotoxins from Staphylococcus Aureus cause Severe Inflammatory Reactions in a Rabbit Eye Model

J. A. Siqueira¹, C. Speeg-Schatz^*, F. I. S. Freitas, J. Sahel^*, H. Monteil and G. Prévost

¹Instituto Hilton Rocha, Ave Anel DaSerra 1335, Mangabeiras, Caixa postal 700, Belo Horizonte 302010-090. Brazil

^*Clinique Ophthalmologique des Hopitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 1 Place de I'Hopital, F-67000 Strasbourg

Institut de Bacteriologie de la Faculte de Medecine, Universite Louis Pasteur, 3 rue de Koeberle, F-67000 Strasbourg, France

²Corresponding author: Dr G. Prévost.

Received April 24, 1996
Accepted October 24, 1996

Panton-Valentine leucocidin arises from the combination of one S component (LukS-PV) with one F component (LukF-PV), whereas y-haemolysin comprises two S components (HlgA and HlgC) with one F component HlgB. The intravitreal injection of rabbit eye with the six combinations (S + F) of channel-forming leucotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 49775 induced acute inflammatory reactions depending on time and doses of toxins. These reactions involved posterior chamber as well as anterior chamber and conjunctiva, eyelids and annexes. Histological examination confirmed the involvement of eye tissues and the disruption of the retinal barrier. The lesions began only 4 h after injections and persisted for at least 5 days. Clinical and biological effects of each leucotoxin were modulated by the speed of onset and intensity of inflammation and necrosis, leading to a functional classification according to the severity of the lesions (HlgA + LukF-PV > HlgA + HlgB LukS-PV + HlgB LukS-PV + LukF-PV > HlgC + HlgB HlgC + LukF-PV). Moreover, N-acetyl β-D glucosaminidase assays on crude extracts of vitreous revealed granules and granule secretions from polymorphonuclear cells with levels according the above classification. These results show that channel-forming leucotoxins have a very significant inflammatory activity. As most S. aureus strains produce two or even six leucotoxins depending on the production of Panton-Valentine leucocidin, these compounds could be considered to be virulence factors.

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