The present study investigated the hypothesis that Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) produces epithelial cell death and releases inflammatory cytokines that produce stromal infiltration during contact lens induced peripheral ulceration. Epithelial cells were incubated with different doses of SEB for various time periods. Culture supernatants were assayed for cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-6 and chemotactic agents IL-8 and LTB4 SEB induced the production of IL-1 beta and IL-8. Epithelial cells exposed for longer periods (48 h) with low concentrations of SEB produced significantly higher levels (P < 0.02) of IL-1 beta and IL-8 (P < 0.05) compared to a 24 h exposure. SEB did not induce the production of IL-6 and LTB4.
These results indicate that lysozyme deposition on contact lenses promoted S. aureus adhesion. The tear protein lysozyme might modify elastase activity and thus modulate the production of corneal degradation resulting from the action of this enzyme.
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