title: Activation of CVID patients' T cells with conventional antigens and superantigens.
abstract: Defects in T cell function are known to be present in a subset of patients with CVID, but the true nature of these defects still has to be revealed. In prior studies we described that T cells from these patients show an impaired proliferative response following activation with recall antigens (E. coli, Tet. Tox., TBE and PPD). Gene expression of IL2 and IFN-gamma in patients' T cells following antigenic stimulation was significantly reduced compared to controls, while IL-2R transcripts were normal. To further characterize the defect we examined T cell responses to bacterial enterotoxins, collectively termed superantigens. Following stimulation with optimal (10 ng/ml p < 0.05) as well as suboptimal (1 ng/ml p < 0.0025) concentrations of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), proliferative response and cytokine release (IL-2 and IFNg) were significantly decreased in patients' T cells as compared to controls'. When patients' T cells were stimulated with staph. enterotox. C3 (SEC3) an even more pronounced difference between patients' and controls' T cells could be observed (10 ng/ml p < 0.002, 1 ng/ml p < 0.0005). Our data indicate that, in addition to the defect in antigen-induced T cell activation, T cells of CVID patients express a broader impairment in the interaction between the antigen presenting cell and the TCR.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hauber
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eggenbauer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lokaj
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Mannhalter
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Eibl
mesh_terms: D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017252:CD3 Complex; D017074:Common Variable Immunodeficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D004768:Enterotoxins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D018089:Superantigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma