Interferon gamma-treated keratinocytes activate T cells in the presence of superantigens: involvement of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules.
During inflammation in the skin keratinocytes can express major histocompatibility complex class II molecules but are unable to present nominal antigens to resting T cells. Certain bacteria including staphylococci produce a new class of antigens termed superantigens that are very potent T-cell activators. Using an in vitro model with cultured normal human keratinocytes and purified allogeneic T cells, we demonstrated that major histocompatibility complex class II+ keratinocytes can activate T cells in the presence of the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B. Major histocompatibility complex class II+ keratinocytes activated T cells at concentrations of staphylococcal enterotoxin B as low as 100 pg/ml. The activation required contact between keratinocytes and T cells, was inhibited with a monoclonal antibody to human leukocyte antigen DR, -DQ, and was not affected by fixation of the keratinocytes. These data show that major histocompatibility complex class II+ keratinocytes activate T cells in the presence of the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B.
Strange
P
P
Department of Dermatology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Skov
L
L
Baadsgaard
O
O
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D004768:Enterotoxins; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D018089:Superantigens; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D007371:Interferon-gamma