Biomaterial Database

Factors influencing the phagocytosis of Clostridium difficile by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. 1987

D C Dailey, and A Kaiser, and R H Schloemer

Phagocytosis of Clostridium difficile by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and the possible role of the clostridial toxins in this process were investigated. Phagocytosis of C. difficile was independent of aerobiosis and clearly depended on opsonization. Either complement or antibodies to C. difficile could serve as opsonins. Toxigenic strains of C. difficile were more resistant to phagocytosis than were nontoxigenic strains. Pretreatment of PMNs with as much as 10,000 units of toxins from culture filtrates of C. difficile for 2 h had no effect on either the phagocytic activity of PMNs or their viability as determined by trypan blue exclusion. In contrast, treatment of human embryonic intestinal cells with the same amount of toxin under identical conditions resulted in cell death.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009504	Neutrophils	Granular leukocytes having a nucleus with three to five lobes connected by slender threads of chromatin, and cytoplasm containing fine inconspicuous granules and stainable by neutral dyes.	LE Cells,Leukocytes, Polymorphonuclear,Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes,Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils,Neutrophil Band Cells,Band Cell, Neutrophil,Cell, LE,LE Cell,Leukocyte, Polymorphonuclear,Neutrophil,Neutrophil Band Cell,Neutrophil, Polymorphonuclear,Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte,Polymorphonuclear Neutrophil
D010587	Phagocytosis	The engulfing and degradation of microorganisms; other cells that are dead, dying, or pathogenic; and foreign particles by phagocytic cells (PHAGOCYTES).	Phagocytoses
D002470	Cell Survival	The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability.	Cell Viability,Cell Viabilities,Survival, Cell,Viabilities, Cell,Viability, Cell
D003013	Clostridium	A genus of motile or nonmotile gram-positive bacteria of the family Clostridiaceae. Many species have been identified with some being pathogenic. They occur in water, soil, and in the intestinal tract of humans and lower animals.
D004306	Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic	A specific immune response elicited by a specific dose of an immunologically active substance or cell in an organism, tissue, or cell.	Immunologic Dose-Response Relationship,Relationship, Immunologic Dose-Response,Dose Response Relationship, Immunologic,Dose-Response Relationships, Immunologic,Immunologic Dose Response Relationship,Immunologic Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Immunologic Dose Response,Relationships, Immunologic Dose-Response
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000332	Aerobiosis	Life or metabolic reactions occurring in an environment containing oxygen.	Aerobioses
D000693	Anaerobiosis	The complete absence, or (loosely) the paucity, of gaseous or dissolved elemental oxygen in a given place or environment. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Anaerobic Metabolism,Anaerobic Metabolisms,Anaerobioses,Metabolism, Anaerobic,Metabolisms, Anaerobic
D000907	Antibodies, Bacterial	Immunoglobulins produced in a response to BACTERIAL ANTIGENS.	Bacterial Antibodies
D000936	Antigen-Antibody Complex	The complex formed by the binding of antigen and antibody molecules. The deposition of large antigen-antibody complexes leading to tissue damage causes IMMUNE COMPLEX DISEASES.	Immune Complex,Antigen-Antibody Complexes,Immune Complexes,Antigen Antibody Complex,Antigen Antibody Complexes,Complex, Antigen-Antibody,Complex, Immune,Complexes, Antigen-Antibody,Complexes, Immune