The Journal of infectious diseases
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Two toxins, alpha (phospholipase C) and theta (oxygen-labile hemolysin), were purified from Clostridium perfringens type A and assayed for toxic effects on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs). Crude preparations containing both toxins totally inhibited chemotaxis and chemiluminescence responses of PMNLs and reduced PMNL viability. ⋯ Effects on chemotaxis were also dose dependent. Increased PMNL random migration was observed at a concentration of theta toxin of 0.06 HU per 2.5 X 10(5) PMNLs (P less than .05), whereas concentrations of greater than 0.08 HU per 2.5 X 10(5) PMNLs reduced both directed and random migration (P less than .05).