title: Evidence for a viral superantigen in humans.
abstract: Superantigens bind class II major histocompatibility proteins and stimulate powerful proliferative responses of T lymphocytes bearing particular V beta sequences as part of their alpha beta antigen receptor. Exogenous bacterial superantigens are responsible for food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. Murine virus-encoded self-superantigens induce clonal deletion of T lymphocytes. Although superantigen-like properties have been suggested for human immunodeficiency virus-1, no viral superantigen has been identified in humans. Here we report that the nucleocapsid of the rabies virus is an exogenous superantigen specific for V beta 8 human T lymphocytes which binds to HLA class II alpha-chains.
authors.affiliation: Unité de la Rage, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lafon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lafage
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinez-Arends
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vuillier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Charron
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lotteau
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scott-Algara
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D018089:Superantigens; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal