title: The CD8 T cell response to staphylococcal enterotoxins.
abstract: Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) are superantigens that bind to MHC class II molecules and activate T lymphocytes via the T cell receptor (TCR) V beta domain. By analogy with T cell responses to conventional peptide antigens, it might be predicted that CD4 (MHC class II restricted) cells would respond better to SE than CD8 (MHC class I restricted) cells. Here we summarize evidence that in fact CD8 cells respond as well as CD4 cells to SE both in vitro and in vivo. These findings emphasize the unique character of TCR-superantigen interactions.
authors: Institut für Virologie und Immunbiologie, Universität Würzburg, Germany.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Herrmann
authors: H R
authors: HR
authors: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D004768:Enterotoxins; D008222:Lymphokines; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta