title: A virus-encoded "superantigen" in a retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency syndrome of mice.
abstract: The development of an immunodeficiency syndrome of mice caused by a replication-defective murine leukemia virus (MuLV) is paradoxically associated with a rapid activation and proliferation of CD4+ T cells that are dependent on the presence of B cells. The responses of normal spleen cells to B cell lines that express the defective virus indicated that these lines express a cell surface determinant that shares "superantigenic" properties with some microbial antigens and Mls-like self antigens. This antigen elicited a potent proliferative response that was dependent on the presence of CD4+ T cells and was associated with selective expansion of cells bearing V beta 5. This response was markedly inhibited by a monoclonal antibody specific for the MuLV gag-encoded p30 antigen.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopathology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Hügin
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Vacchio
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Morse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D016183:Murine Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009154:Mutation; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell