Selective expansion of T cells expressing V beta 2 in toxic shock syndrome.
Infection with Staphylococcus aureus and the production of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of toxic shock syndrome. Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated that TSST-1 is a powerful but selective stimulator of human T cells, and that the majority of activated cells express the TCR V beta 2 gene segment. We therefore studied patients with toxic shock syndrome using a modification of the PCR to determine if expansion of V beta 2+ T cells is a marker of the in vivo disease process. Five of eight patients studied demonstrated markedly elevated levels of circulating V beta 2+ T cells, whereas none showed significantly elevated levels of T cells expressing other V beta gene segments. The results suggest that toxin-mediated T cell activation, which involves a large fraction of the human T cell repertoire, may be critical in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Choi
Y
Y
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Denver.
Lafferty
J A
JA
Clements
J R
JR
Todd
J K
JK
Gelfand
E W
EW
Kappler
J
J
Marrack
P
P
Kotzin
B L
BL
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000276:immunology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell