Effect of staphylococcal leukocidin on mouse leukocyte system

Staphylococcal Panton-Valentine leukocidin has been purified and tested in mice for its biological properties. Applied even in high doses the leukocidin was not lethal. It caused however, disturbances in the peripheral blood occurring in several phases. First reaction after leukocidin injection was seen as marked granulocytosis persisting for 16-20 hours and accompanied by lymphopenia. At the same time, decrease in serum lysozyme activity and increase of intracellular digestion by mature granulocytes, was observed. In the second phase, these phenomena have reversed. 131I-labelled leukocidin has been used for the study of distribution of this toxin in the mouse. Accumulation of leukocidin in some tissues was observed. The leukocidin affected not only granulocytes but also other peripheral blood cells.