Alteration of clearance function by group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin and its relation to suppression of the antibody response.

The effect of purified group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (SPE) type A on the processing of and antibody response to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) was studied in BALB/cWat mice. The rate of clearance of 51Cr-labeled SRBC from the bloodstream was decreased 3 or 24 h following a single intravenous injection of 1 or 10 microgram of SPE. Delayed uptake of label was observed in both the livers and spleens of SPE-treated mice, suggesting an inhibitory effect of the toxin on phagocytic cells of the reticuloendothelial system. Three daily intravenous injections of 0.1 or 1 microgram of purified SPE type A suppressed the early immunoglobulin response to SRBC. The role of altered macrophage function in producing the immunosuppression was tested in macrophage transfer experiments. SPE treatment suppressed the antibody response to SRBC transferred by normal macrophages, indicating that the immunosuppressive effect of the toxin was not due solely to altered antigen processing by macrophages.