Staphylococcal enterotoxin B up-regulates interleukin-2 receptor beta chain expression on tonsillar B cells.
The superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) selectively up-regulates the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) beta chain (p70) without up-regulating the IL-2R alpha chain (CD25) on a human tonsillar B cell population depleted of T cells. This action of SEB, probably mediated by binding to major histocompatibility complex class II, renders B cells sensitive to T cell-derived IL-2 and is sufficient for induction of vigorous DNA synthesis with low concentrations of IL-2. This explains one of the mechanisms by which bacterial superantigens activate large numbers of B cells and may reflect a similar mechanism operative in cognate helper T cell/B cell interactions.
Franz
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A
Immunodeficiency Diseases Research Group, Clinical Research Centre, Harrow, GB.
Bryant
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A
Farrant
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens; D015854:Up-Regulation
D004768:Enterotoxins; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D018089:Superantigens; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D004247:DNA