title: Stimulation of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cells with superantigenic staphylococcal toxins.
abstract: Stimulation of T cells by superantigenic bacterial toxins is selective for cells bearing particular B chain variable (VB) gene segments of T-cell receptor (TCR). In humans, staphylococcal exfoliating toxin (ExT) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) are known to stimulate VB 2-bearing T cells and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) does not activate VB 2-bearing T cells. We examined the proliferative response of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) cells to ExT, TSST-1, and SEB. Leukemic VB 2.1-bearing CTCL cells were reactive to ExT and TSST-1, but not SEB. In addition, two leukemia CTCL-VB 2- cell samples (one of which was VB 8) showed no substantial response to ExT. Thus, it was shown that Sezary cells proliferate in response to bacterial superantigens in a manner that is restricted by their VB usage. The addition of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in combination with ExT enhanced the stimulative response of VB 2.1-bearing CTCL cells that were pre-cultured with ExT for 7 d, suggesting that IL-1 can be a co-factor for the stimulation. The present study indicates that the superantigen reaction occurs with CTCL cells and implies a possible involvement of bacterial toxins in the pathogenesis of CTCL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokura
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Heald
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Edelson
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002455:Cell Division; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D018089:Superantigens; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal; D015847:Interleukin-4; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal