title: Superantigens.
abstract: The endogenous superantigens (the enigmatic minor lymphocyte-stimulating antigens) have been identified; they are encoded by integrated mouse mammary tumor viruses. The retroviral superantigens appear to be transmembrane glycoproteins, and their highly variable extracellular carboxyl terminus is responsible for V beta interaction. In spite of intensive efforts the precise structure-function relationship for the superantigens is not yet clear. The most important consequences of the introduction of the superantigens in vivo are shock and T-cell depletion and anergy. The search for novel superantigens related to human diseases has started.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University of Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fleischer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000276:immunology; D012769:Shock / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens