Superantigens and retroviral infection: insights from mouse mammary tumor virus.
Superantigens induce a vigorous immune response by stimulating T cells that express particular T-cell receptor V beta chains. Mouse mammary tumor virus is a milk-transmitted retrovirus that encodes such a superantigen. Paradoxically, as discussed by Werner Held and colleagues, the strong superantigen-induced immune response permits the survival of the virus via T-cell dependent clonal expansion of infected B cells.
Held
W
W
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Epalinges, Switzerland.
Acha-Orbea
H
H
MacDonald
H R
HR
Waanders
G A
GA
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology; D008324:Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D018089:Superantigens