title: Suppression of immunoglobulin-secreting cells from human peripheral blood by toxic-shock-syndrome toxin-1.
abstract: Toxic-shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), a nonspecific T lymphocyte mitogen, was shown to cause the suppression of immunoglobulin-secreting cells (ISCs) generated in pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulated cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMs). Greater than 90% suppression of the PWM-stimulated ISC response was achieved when 2 X 10(6) PBMs were cultured in the presence of 1 microgram of TSST-1. The nonspecific suppression induced by the toxin was dose related; amounts of TSST-1 as low as 1.0 ng/2 X 10(6) cultured cells caused significant suppression of the ISC response. TSST-1-induced suppression was due to the activation of a population of cells that secreted a soluble factor that mediated the resulting suppression. PBMs were activated by a 24-hr preincubation of 2 X 10(6) cells in the presence of 1 microgram of TSST-1 followed by repeated washing to remove residual toxin. These cells, when co-cultured with unstimulated PBMs and PWM, suppressed the normal ISC response. The supernatant factor, active at volumes of 10 microliters/2 X 10(6) PBMs, was generated by harvesting the supernatant fluid of TSST-1-activated cells. The results of these in vitro experiments confirm that TSST-1 is an immunosuppressing agent that affects human lymphocyte function and, in such a capacity, may play a role in the development of toxic shock syndrome in humans.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D018089:Superantigens; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D018089:Superantigens; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal