TSST-1 was better able to stimulate chemokine (IL-8 and MIP-3α) production by HVECs than SEB and SEC, suggesting this is the reason for TSST-1's exclusive association with menstrual TSS.
However, unlike the classical enterotoxins SEB and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1), the gene for SEl-K is commonly present in more than half of all Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates and is present in almost all USA300 community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) isolates.
Even if Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEB and SEC), and exfoliative toxins (ETA and ETB) may be associated with severe infections, the clinical significance of their presence in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus remains poorly documented.
The DVbetaS of TSST-1 and SEB were detected in patients with menstrual and non-menstrual TSS, respectively, whereas no Vbeta signature was detected during septic shock.
The majority of the clones responded to at least one of the SA tested, staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEA and SEB) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1).