title: Accessory cell-independent stimulation of human T cells by streptococcal M protein superantigen.
abstract: Stimulation of T cells by superantigens has been reported to be dependent on the presence of APC where binding to class II molecules is a prerequisite to recognition by the TCR. We examined the response of human T cells and a leukemic T cell line, Jurkat to the superantigen, streptococcal M protein. We show that immobilized or cross-linked streptococcal M protein stimulates Jurkat cells (V beta 8), but not normal purified human T cells, to produce IL-2. Activation of purified T cells by this superantigen required costimulatory signals provided by PMA, IL-1, and IL-6. These cytokines and growth factors alone can induce IL-2 production by T cells; however, proliferation occurred only in the presence of superantigen, which together with PMA, IL-1, and IL-6 induced the expression of IL-2R alpha on T cells. Similar results were obtained when the response of purified T cells to another known superantigen, staphylococcal enterotoxin B were examined, indicating that this phenomenon is not unique to M protein. Superantigens interact with a large number of T cells with particular V beta, and thus provide excellent models for studies of the role of biochemical events and signal transduction in T cell activation. Understanding these events may also explain the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases associated with certain superantigens, such as streptococcal M protein that is thought to be involved in rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
authors: University of Tennessee, Memphis.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kotb
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Majumdar
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Tomai
authors: E H
authors: EH
authors: Beachey
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D017252:CD3 Complex; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017252:CD3 Complex; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C014689:streptococcal M protein; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate