Streptococcal and staphylococcal superantigens (ETA, SEB): presentation by human epidermal cells and induction of autologous T cell proliferation in vitro.
Streptococcal and staphylococcal toxins are responsible for skin-related clinical conditions, e.g. scarlet fever and toxic shock syndrome. Skin involvement may result from a hypersensitivity reaction to these toxins; however, their precise mode of action has still to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the capacity of human epidermal cells to present streptococcal erythrogenic toxin A (ETA) or staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) to autologous T-lymphocytes in vitro. We found a significant T-lymphocyte proliferation response to minute amounts of ETA (p < 0.01) and SEB (p < 0.02) when co-cultured with freshly isolated autologous human epidermal cells. We suggest that human skin may serve not only as an entry for microbial toxin-producing strains but also as an important target for streptococcal and staphylococcal toxin-binding and subsequent T cell proliferation.
Buslau
M
M
Department of Dermatology, J. W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Kappus
R
R
Gerlach
D
D
Köhler
W
W
Diehl
S
S
Holzmann
H
H
D000328:Adult; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011749:Pyrogens; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011749:Pyrogens; C117980:SpeA protein, Streptococcus pyogenes; C027951:erythrogenic toxin; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal