Synovial fibroblasts as accessory cells for staphylococcal enterotoxin-mediated T-cell activation.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is thought to be the result of T-cell-mediated autoimmune phenomena. So far, a critical autoantigen has not been identified. Recently, superantigens have been implied in the pathogenesis of RA. In the present study it was tested whether major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-positive synovial fibroblast cells (SFC) function as superantigen-presenting cells. SFC were stimulated with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) to express class II antigens; then they were cultivated in the presence of T cells with or without staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE). T-cell activation was measured as proliferation and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. Depending on the dose and type of SE, activation of T-cell clones and also of peripheral T cells was seen. T-cell activation was inhibited by antibodies to MHC class II antigens and also by antibodies to intracellular adhesion molecule type-1 (ICAM-1). The data suggest that class II-positive SFC have the capacity to serve as accessory cells for superantigen-mediated T-cell activation. Thus SFC may participate in the propagation of a T-cell dependent immune response.
Kraft
M
M
Institut für Immunologie, Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
Filsinger
S
S
Krämer
K L
KL
Kabelitz
D
D
Hänsch
G M
GM
Schoels
M
M
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D004768:Enterotoxins; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D018089:Superantigens; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1