An MHC class II-expressing T cell clone presenting conventional antigen lacks the ability to present bacterial superantigen.
We have analyzed the response of rat T cells to myelin basic protein (MBP) and the bacterial superantigen, staphylococcal enterotoxin E (SEE). Rat T cells reactive with MBP can respond to SEE presented by spleen cells but not to SEE presented by LOA, a rat T cell clone that expresses both I-A and I-E MHC class II molecules, even though LOA is much more efficient than splenic APC in the presentation of MBP. The inability of LOA to present superantigen is not due to a structural difference in MHC II molecules between LOA and the splenic APC or to differential expression of major accessory/adhesion molecules, including CD2, CD5, CD4 and CD44, on LOA. The non-responsiveness of SEE/LOA-induced T cells differs from anergy, in that such cells do not lose their subsequent responsiveness to either MBP or SEE. Our results demonstrate that: (i) MHC class II molecules (I-A and I-E) alone are insufficient for the activation of T cells by bacterial superantigen, (ii) failure to respond to antigen presented upon inappropriate APC or in inadequate doses may not necessarily represent anergy, and (iii) the quality of the T cell response towards certain ligands can be strongly influenced by the nature of the APC.
Department of Immunology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38101, USA.
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Sun
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Woodland
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Coleclough
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Wendling
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Reske
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D017635:Clonal Anergy; D002999:Clone Cells; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004768:Enterotoxins; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D018089:Superantigens; C049463:enterotoxin E, Staphylococcal; D007371:Interferon-gamma