Endogenous corticosteroids modulate Clostridium difficile toxin A-induced enteritis in rats.

We examined the role of glucocorticoids in acute inflammatory diarrhea mediated by Clostridium difficile toxin A. Toxin A (5 microg) or buffer was injected in rat ileal loops, and intestinal responses were measured after 30 min to 4 h. Ileal toxin A administration increased plasma glucocorticoids after 1 h, at which time the toxin-stimulated secretion was not significant. Administration of the glucocorticoid analog dexamethasone inhibited toxin A-induced intestinal secretion and inflammation and downregulated toxin A-mediated increase of macrophage inflammatory protein-2. Adrenalectomy followed by replacement with glucocorticoids at various doses suggested that intestinal responses to toxin A were related to circulating levels of glucocorticoids. Administration of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU-486 enhanced toxin A-mediated intestinal secretion and inflammation. We conclude that C. difficile toxin A causes increased secretion of endogenous glucocorticoids, which diminish the intestinal secretory and inflammatory effects of toxin A.