Because of this, the cytotoxins that are produced upon an S. aureus infection, including delta toxin, are proinflammatory molecules.
Delta toxin is also a chemoattractant for leukocytes, leading to a surge of cytokines such as interleukin-8 from neutrophils at an infection site.
[5] Delta toxin also has moderate cytolytic abilities to lyse red and white blood cells through the use of short-lived pores in the cytoplasmic membrane.
Delta toxin specifically causes mast cell degranulation, contributing to allergic reactions of the skin like atopic dermatitis.
Delta toxin activity can also both enhanced and prevented with saturated, straight-chain fatty acids of varying lengths.