S-aureus superantigen protein A expands CD4+/CD8+/CD19+/CD34+ cells in mice:: A potential immunorestorer

Protein A (PA) of Staphylococcus aureus is known for its immunostimulatory, anti-cancer, and anti-toxic properties. The present study revealed that PA stimulates specific immunocytes to act as a potential immunorestorer. It has also been shown that the percentage of various cell types bearing different clusters of differentiation markers, e.g., CD4(+), CD8(+), CD19(+), increases considerably after inoculation with PA. It has also been observed that CD34(+) progenitor cells of bone marrow also increased significantly (P < 0.05) upon PA treatment. PA significantly elevated Th-1 cytokines, e.g., IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 alpha. The increased percentages of CD4(+), CD8(+), CD19(+), CD34(+) cells and elevated cytokine levels in PA treated animals may contribute to the reported anti-tumor, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, and anti-toxic properties of PA. Since in various diseased conditions and during toxic drug therapy lymphocytes bearing such differentiation markers get suppressed, this type of approach could help in immunorestoration of the host. These findings might help in designing therapeutic approaches toward various diseases which cause immunosuppression. (C) 1999 Academic Press.