Skip to main content
Log in

The binding of epidermolytic toxin fromStaphylococcus aureus to mouse epidermal tissue

  • Papers
  • Published:
The Histochemical Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Fluorescein-labelled epidermolytic toxin (FTC-toxin) ofStaphylococcus aureus and ferritin—toxin conjugate have been prepared and purified. FTC-toxin bound selectively to cryostat and resin-impregnated sections of neonatal mouse skin. Binding was localized at the keratohyalin granules and in the stratum corneum. In an epidermal cell (granular, spinous and basal) preparation, only keratohyalin granules of the granular cells bound FTC-toxin. Ferritin—toxin conjugate bound to skin sections at the same two sites as FTC-toxin and was competitive with the binding of free toxin. Keratohyalin granules in unstained sections had a novel ‘patched’ appearance under the electron microscope, and the ferritin—toxin conjugate bound preferentially to the electron-lucent areas. In the stratum corneum it was shown by quantitative estimation that the target density decreased as the surface of the tissue was approached.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ANDERSON, P. J. (1967) Purification and quantitation of glutaraldehyde and its effect on several enzyme activities in skeletal muscle.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 15, 652–61.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • AINSWORTH, S. K. & KARNOVSKY, M. J. (1972) An ultrastructural staining method for enhancing the size and electron opacity of ferritin in thin sections.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 20, 225–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • BAILEY, C. J., DE AZAVEDO, J. & ARBUTHNOTT, J. P. (1980) A comparative study of two serotypes of epidermolytic toxin fromStaphylococcus aureus.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 624, 111–20.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • BAKER, D. H., DIMOND, R. L. & WUEPPER, K. D. (1978) The epidermolytic toxin ofStaphylococcus aureus: its failure to bind to cells and its detection in blister fluids of patients with bullous impetigo.J. Invest. Dermatol. 71, 274–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • BONNEVILLE, M. A. (1968) Observations on epidermal differentiation in the fetal rat.Amer. J. Anat. 123, 147–64.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ELIAS, P. M., FRITSCH, P., DAHL, M. V. & WOLFF, K. (1975) Staphylococcal toxic epidermal necrolysis: Pathogenesis and studies on the subcellular site of action of exfoliatin.J. Invest. Dermatol. 65, 501–12.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ELIAS, P. M., FRITSCH, P. & EPSTEIN, E. H. (1977) Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. Clinical features, pathogenesis, and recent microbiological and biochemical developments.Arch. Dermatol. 113, 207–19.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ENGVALL, E. & PERLMANN, P. (1972) Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA III. Quantitation of specific antibodies by enzyme-labelled anti-immunoglobulin in antigen coated tubes.J. Immunol. 109, 129–35.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • FARBMANN, A. I. (1966) Morphological variability of keratohyalin.Anat. Rec. 154, 275–86.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • FREER, J. H. & ARBUTHNOTT, J. P. (1982) Toxins ofStaphylococcus aureus.Pharmacol. Therapeut. 19, 55–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • GALFRE, G. & MILSTEIN, C. (1981) Preparation of monoclonal antibodies: strategies and procedures.Methods Enzymol. 73, 25–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • GOMMANS, J. M., BERGERS, M., VAN ERP, P. E. J., VAN DEN HURK, J. J. M. A., MIER, P. D. & ROELFZEMA, H. (1979) Studies on the plasma membrane of normal and psoriatic keratinocytes.Brit. J. Dermatol. 101, 407–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • HARDING, C. R. & SCOTT, I. R. (1983) Histidine-rich proteins (filaggrins): structural and functional heterogeneity during epidermal differentiation.J. Mol. Biol. 170, 651–73.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JARRETT, A. (1973) The physiology and pathophysiology of the skin. InThe Epidermis vol 1 (edited by JARRETT, A.), pp. 12–14. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • JOHNSON, A. D., SPERO, L., CADES, J. S. & DE CICCO, B. T. (1979) Purification and characterization of different types of exfoliative toxin fromS. aureus.Infect. Immun. 24, 679–84.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JOHNSON, G. D. & NOGUEIRA ARAUJO, G. M. DE C. (1981) A simple method of reducing the fading of immunofluoresence during microscopy.J. Immunol. Methods 43, 349–50.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • KAKIMI, S., FUKUYAMA, K., & EPSTEIN, W. L. (1980) A study of ultrathin frozen sections of granular cells in newborn rat epidermis.J. Ultrastruct. Res. 70, 8–14.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • KONDO, I., SAKURAI, S. & SARAI, Y. (1976) Staphylococcal exfoliation A and B. InStaphylococci and Staphylococal Diseases (edited by JELJASZEWITZ, J.) pp. 489–98. Stuttgart: Gustav Fisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • LILLIBRIDGE, C. B., MELISH, M. E. & GLASGOW, L. A. (1972) Site of action of exfoliative toxin in the Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.Pediatrics,50, 728–38.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MALTOSY, A. G. & MALTOSY, M. N. (1970) The chemical nature of keratohyalin granules of the epidermis.J. Cell Biol. 47, 593–603.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MCLAY, A. L. C., ARBUTHNOTT, J. P. & LYELL, A. (1975) Action of Staphylococcal epidermolytic toxin on mouse skin: an electron microscopic study.J. Invest. Dermatol. 65, 423–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MELISH, M. E. & GLASGOW, L. A. (1970) The Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome: development of an experimental model.New. Eng. J. Med. 282, 1114–19.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MONTAGNA, W. & PARAKKAL, P. F. (1974)The Structure and Function of Skin, 3rd edn., pp. 57–60. New York, London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • ROGOLSKY, M. (1979) Nonenteric toxins ofStaphylococcus aureus.Microbiol. Rev. 43, 320–60.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SCOTT, I. R. & HARDING, C. R. (1981) Studies of the synthesis and degradation of a high molecular weight, histidine-rich phosphoprotein from mammalian epidermis.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 669, 65–78.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SMITH, T. P. & BAILEY, C. J. (1986) Epidermolytic toxin fromStaphylococcus aureus binds to filaggrins.FEBS Letts. 194, 309–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • STEINERT, P. M., CANTIERI, J. S., TELLER, D. C., LONSDALE-ECCLES, J. D. & DALE, B. A. (1981) Characterization of a class of cationic proteins that specifically interact with intermediate filaments.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78, 4097–101.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SUZUKI, S., TSUYAMA, S., SUGANUMA, T., YAMAMOTO, N. & MURATTA, F. (1981) Postembedding staining of Brunner's gland with lectin—ferritin conjugates.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 29, 946–52.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • VAN NOORDEN, S. & POLAK, J. M. (1983) Immunocytochemistry today: techniques and practice. InImmunocytochemistry, Practical Applications in Pathology and Biology (edited by POLAK, J. M. & VAN NOORDEN, S.) pp. 11–42. Bristol, London, Boston: John Wright & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Smith, T.P., John, D.A. & Bailey, C.J. The binding of epidermolytic toxin fromStaphylococcus aureus to mouse epidermal tissue. Histochem J 19, 137–149 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01695138

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01695138

Keywords

Navigation