The Keratinocyte as a Target for Staphylococcal Bacterial Toxins Jeffrey B. Travers  Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings  Volume 6, Issue 3, Pages 225-230 (December 2001) DOI: 10.1046/j.0022-202x.2001.00045.x Copyright © 2001 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 Staphylococcal α-toxin stimulates increased arachidonic acid release in PAF-R expressing versus control KB cells. KB cells transduced with the PAF-R (KBP) or control retrovirus (KBM) were stimulated with 10 µg per ml purified α-toxin or vehicle for 30 min, and arachidonic acid released into the supernatant was quantitated by gas chromatography mass spectrometry using deuterated arachidonic acid as internal standard as previously described (Pei et al, 1998). The data shown are mean ± standard deviation of arachidonic acid released from duplicate samples from a representative experiment of four conducted. Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings 2001 6, 225-230DOI: (10.1046/j.0022-202x.2001.00045.x) Copyright © 2001 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

Figure 2 Interactions between Staphylococcal proteins and the keratinocyte. The keratinocyte has the potential to be a target for S. aureus proteins. Enterotoxins that act as superantigens (SAg) can signal through MHC-II molecules found on activated keratinocytes, resulting in a calcium mobilization response as well as the production of TNF-α. Protein A does not appear to induce a calcium mobilization response, but is a potent inducer of keratinocyte TNF-α production through an unknown mechanism. Through its ability to form a heptameric transmembrane pore, α-toxin can trigger a calcium mobilization response as well as TNF-α production. Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings 2001 6, 225-230DOI: (10.1046/j.0022-202x.2001.00045.x) Copyright © 2001 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions