Stimulation of CD2-negative T cells by staphylococcal enterotoxin superantigens.
A minor fraction of CD3+ T cells lacks expression of the CD2 antigen, which is the target for an "alternative" T cell activation pathway. CD2-CD3+ T cells can be stimulated by anti-CD3 or anti-T cell receptor (TCR) antibodies, indicating that the CD3/TCR signal transduction pathway functions in the absence of cell surface CD2. In the present study we have analyzed whether CD2-CD3+ T cells also respond to antigen stimulation. We show here that cloned CD2-negative T cells expressing the alpha/beta TCR are activated by one or several staphylococcal enterotoxin "superantigens". Activation of CD2-CD3+ T cell clones by staphylococcal enterotoxins resulted in IL-2 production and/or proliferative activity, and was dependent on the presence of HLA class II-bearing feeder cells. These data demonstrate that T cells can recognize (and respond to) antigen in the absence of a functional CD2 molecule.
Institut für Immunologie, Universität Heidelberg, F.R.G.
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Kabelitz
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D013210:Staphylococcus; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D004768:Enterotoxins; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic