Staphylococcal culture supernates stimulate human phagocytes

Phagocytes play a major role in host defense against staphylococci as well as in the pathophysiology of Gram-positive septic shock. In Gram negative sepsis, the main mediator, LPS exerts its effects as easily suspendable mediator. In Gram positive sepsis the main mediator is still not found, therefore we studied the interaction of soluble staphylococcal products with phagocytes. Staphylococcus aureus supernates (SaS) were harvested from several laboratory and clinical strains that were grown to late-log phase. These supernates upregulated CD11b/CD18 expression on human neutrophils even in a 100-fold dilution. SaS also induced the release of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta by human monocytes. Control experiments excluded peptidoglycan, lipoteichoic acid, alpha and delta toxin, leucocidin, TSST-1 and all enterotoxins as sole mediators. Endotoxin contamination was also excluded. SaS was heat-stable; incubation for 45 minutes at 100 degrees C did not affect its activity. Compared to purified peptidoglycan and intact bacteria per bacterium, SaS had a higher potency in stimulating phagocytes. We hypothesize that there are more--yet unknown--soluble staphylococcal products which are very important in phagocyte stimulation.