Alpha‐toxin is produced by skin colonizing <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and induces a T helper type 1 response in atopic dermatitis

Abstract

alpha-toxin is produced by S. aureus isolated from patients with AD. We show here for the first time that sublytic alpha-toxin concentrations activate T cells in the absence of antigen-presenting cells. Our results indicate that alpha-toxin is relevant for the induction of a Th1 like cytokine response. In AD, this facilitates the development of Th1 cell dominated chronic eczema.