title: Superantigenic properties of a novel mitogenic substance produced by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis isolated from patients manifesting acute and systemic symptoms.
abstract: A novel product from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis exhibiting mitogenic activity for human PBMC (designated Y. pseudotuberculosis-derived mitogen, YPM) was examined for its biologic activities for human lymphocytes. YPM induced a substantial proliferative response and IL-2 production at 0.1 ng/ml or more in whole PBMC but not in T-depleted PBMC. IL-2 production occurred within 12 h after YPM stimulation. T cells from PBMC produced IL-2 in the presence of L cells transfected with HLA DR genes or DP genes but not in the presence of control L cells used as accessory cells. Paraformaldehyde fixation did not abolish the AC activity of the DR+ L cells. The results suggest that YPM bind directly to HLA class II molecules. Analysis of the TCR V beta element using the polymerase chain reaction revealed that YPM selectively activated human T cells bearing V beta 3, V beta 9, V beta 13.1, and V beta 13.2 in TCR. These results indicate that YPM is a potent T cell activator and has superantigenic properties (abilities to bind directly to MHC class II molecules and selectively stimulate T cell populations bearing particular V beta elements in TCR). The role of YPM in the mechanism of pathogenesis of Y. pseudotuberculosis infections manifesting acute and systemic clinical symptoms is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyoshi-Akiyama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fujimaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imanishi
authors.forename: X J
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015011:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008934:Mitogens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D018089:Superantigens; C093313:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis-derived mitogen