title: Interferon gamma-treated keratinocytes activate T cells in the presence of superantigens: involvement of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strange
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Skov
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baadsgaard
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: 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