Relation of Rheumatic-Like Cardiac Lesions of the Mouse to Localization of Group a Streptococcal Cell Walls

Abstract

Mice injected intraperitoneally with isolated cell wall fragments of Group A streptococci develop a carditis similar to that previously observed in mice injected with crude extracts of this organism. Neither the soluble cytoplasmic components of Group A streptococcal cells nor the nonfragmented cell walls produced carditis in this experimental model. Fluorescein and 125I-labeled antibodies specific for Group A streptococcal cell wall antigens were used to demonstrate that, for 5 wk after injection, cell wall material is localized around the sites of active lesions in the heart. In addition, the cell wall antigen accumulates in the liver, spleen, mediastinal lymph nodes, and the adjacent loose connective tissue, where it persists for at least 10 wk.

Biological Properties of Cell Wall Mucopeptide of Hemolytic Streptococci

“…Examination of rabbits 10 days after injection revealed a persistence of this carditis. These findings in the heart are similar in some respects to those seen in the myocardium of mice after intravenous or intraperitoneal injection of sonically disrupted Group A streptococci or sonicaily disrupted Group A streptococcal cell walls (21,27). It is suggested by these authors that in this case, also, the mucopeptide is the toxic moiety of the cell wall fragments, but the proof is indirect, because cell walls, and not mucopeptide alone were injected.…”

“…It is suggested by these authors that in this case, also, the mucopeptide is the toxic moiety of the cell wall fragments, but the proof is indirect, because cell walls, and not mucopeptide alone were injected. Nevertheless, the evidence obtained by immunofluorescent techniques is convincing that cell wail fragments persist for prolonged periods in the heart after injection of the material into the peritoneum (21).…”

“…Cromartie, Schwab, and Ohanian have suggested that the toxic properties of cell walls are due to thepersistence of fragments as durable material in the tissue, thus leading to focal lesions. It is argued that the mucopeptide is the toxic moiety of the cell wall fragments (20,21). On the other hand, there is now accumulating evidence that the mucopeptides are antigenic and that immune sera produced by injection of bacterial vaccines contain mucopeptide antibodies (8,(22)(23)(24)(25)(26).…”

Streptococcal Rheumatic Carditis.

“…This pattern of localization was similar to that seen in the mouse muscle injected with fluorescence-labeled streptococci (215). Localization of the cell wall components was also found to occur in the reticuloendothelial system, as expected for a particulate substance (50,131,188). Besides cardiac injury, hepatic lesions also appeared within 12 h of ijection ofthe sonicates (63,245).…”

Sensitive mass spectrometric procedure for the detection of bacterial cell wall components in rheumatoid joints

“…It is well established that certain bacterial cell wall components can cause chronic inflammatory conditions in a variety of experimental animals (3)(4)(5). A single injection of a sterile aqueous suspension of streptococcal cell walls can lead to a chronic intermittent and remittent arthritis in genetically susceptible rats (6).…”