Cell Culture Reactivity to Diphtheria, Staphylococcus, Tetanus and Escherichia Coli Toxins

Abstract

Cell cultures derived from host species sensitive and resistant to diphtheria toxin were submitted to reaction with the toxin. Primary kidney cultures of rabbit, guinea pig, dog, monkey and human were susceptible, as were the human HeLa, HEp #2, HE-76 and rabbit kidney cell lines. Mouse kidney, rat kidney, and mouse L strain were unaffected by high concentrations of toxin. All embryonic rat cultures tested were resistant and all embryonic chicken cultures tested were sensitive. These results indicated that cells in primary and established cultures, used in this study, maintained the sensitivity or resistance observed for whole animal. The level of comparative cell susceptibility is indicated and the effective concentrations of diphtheria toxin extends from 0.0003 MLD for primary human or guinea pig cells to 0.3 MLD/ml for human HE-76 cells. It was also evident that established cell strains are less sensitive than primary cultures derived from the same species, and may even become completely resistant. Staphylococcus alpha toxin destroyed cell cultures derived from susceptible species, mouse, rabbit and man. Tetanus exotoxin did not show any observable cytopathogenic effect against cultures derived from mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, chicken, dog, monkey and man. E. coli endotoxin was not toxic for cell cultures derived from mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, chicken and man.