title: Clonal heterogeneity of superantigen reactivity in human V beta 6+ T cell clones. Limited contributions of V beta sequence polymorphisms.
abstract: Superantigens encoded in the genome or released by bacteria have been identified as potent modulators of the murine immune system. High frequencies of mature or immature T cells are activated or intrathymically deleted when superantigens cross-link MHC class II molecules and the V beta element of the TCR. The V beta specificity discriminates superantigens from polyclonal T cell stimulators as well as specific Ag and determines the immunomodulatory role in shaping the T cell repertoire. A similar regulatory function of superantigens in the human immune system is less well established. Here, we have studied a series of human T cell clones sharing the TCR V beta 6 element and describe a surprising heterogeneity in their responsiveness to staphylococcal exotoxins. The V beta 6 gene segment had the ability to respond to all staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE); however, for individual T cell clones, there was a clear predominance of SE C3 reactivity compared to SE B and SE C2. The clonal heterogeneity of SE responsiveness did not correlate to sequence polymorphisms in the fourth hypervariable region of the V beta 6 segment, the presumptive binding site for superantigens. Superantigen reactivity was crucially influenced by the presenting HLA-DR molecule, especially when the superantigen served as a coligand, enhancing or suppressing the Ag-specific activation of the TCR. These data suggest that the correlation between human TCR V beta gene segments and superantigen responses is not stringent. Potential intrathymic deletion mechanisms controlled by superantigens may be less selective in humans and may result in a leakiness influenced by the host HLA-DR molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Goronzy
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Oppitz
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Weyand
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002999:Clone Cells; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004731:Endotoxins; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta