Work

Cardioselective β-blocker Therapy Resolves Staphylococcus aureus Toxin-Induced Innate Immunoparalysis

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: During Staphylococcus aureus sepsis, the pore-forming α-toxin (Hla) triggers lytic platelet death and provokes the release of catecholamines that modulate leukocyte effector function. The resulting surge in catecholaminergic action paralyzes host antimicrobial capacity by upregulating interleukin-10 (IL-10), profoundly suppressing the protective interferon (IFN) response to orchestrate innate immunoparalysis. Here, we deconvolute a multi-cellular regulatory pathway in the blood and highlight a pivotal immunological checkpoint, where pharmacological intervention with cardioselective β-blockers uncouples the immunosuppressive cascade, restores host antimicrobial function, and significantly improves survival outcomes.

Source: bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

DOI: 10.64898/2026.10.12.758599

Authors: Joshua W. Sun, Ruth Siew, Breanna Luna, David Gonzalez, Sachiko Kanaji, George Sakoulas

Institutions: University of California San Diego, University of California, San Francisco, Scripps Research Institute, Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group

Language: English

Topic: Sepsis Diagnosis and Treatment

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: University of California, San Diego