Role of bacterial components in macrophage activation by the LAC and MW2 strains of community-associated, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

We tested the contribution of four staphylococcal components - PSM-α, PSM-β, δ-toxin, and PVL - in triggering macrophage secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukins 6 (IL-6) and 12 (IL-12) by two prominent, circulating strains of community-associated, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA): LAC, USA300; MW2, USA400. RAW 264.7 murine macrophages were stimulated with live, antibiotic-exposed bacteria, and cytokine secretion was quantitated in supernatants.