Activation of T cells by superantigen in class II-negative mice.
The ability of the staphylococcal enterotoxins to stimulate T cells has been thought to depend on their association with class II MHC products. Here, we demonstrate that a subgroup of staphylococcal enterotoxins, which includes staphylococcal enterotoxin C and staphylococcal enterotoxin E, stimulates strong MHC-independent responses, thereby resulting in T cell expansion and generation of CTL. The immunologic consequences of MHC-independent activation of T cells by superantigens differ from those of class II-dependent activation, inasmuch as this pathway does not result in detectable T cell deletion. These findings delineate a novel MHC-independent T cell activation pathway that leads to both clonal expansion and expression of CTL effector function in response to a subgroup of bacterial superantigens.
Avery
A C
AC
Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.
Markowitz
J S
JS
Grusby
M J
MJ
Glimcher
L H
LH
Cantor
H
H
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000172:deficiency
D004768:Enterotoxins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D018089:Superantigens; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; C049463:enterotoxin E, Staphylococcal; C034959:enterotoxin C, staphylococcal