Modification of immediate hypersensitivity responses by staphylococcal enterotoxin B.
The staphylococcal enterotoxins have been termed superantigens based on their ability to stimulate polyclonal proliferative responses of murine and human T lymphocytes expressing particular T-cell receptor V beta gene products. Certain of these toxins have been shown both to activate and to induce anergy in reactive T cells. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B is known to interact with murine T cells bearing V beta 3, -7, -8.1, -8.2, -8.3, and -17. In BALB/c mice V beta 3+ and V beta 17+ T cells are deleted; V beta 7+ T cells are low in frequency. BALB/c mice sensitized to ovalbumin via the skin and airways develop immediate hypersensitivity including IgE/IgG1 antiovalbumin antibodies, immediate cutaneous reactivity to ovalbumin and, increased airway responsiveness. In both in vitro and in vivo studies, the development of these responses has been associated with the V beta 8+ subset of T cells and controlled by V beta 2 + T cells. In view of the central role of V beta 8+ T cells in these responses, we tested the effects of staphylococcal enterotoxin B on the development of immediate hypersensitivity in this system. Intradermal injection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B prevented the development of these responses in the absence of a major deletion of V beta 8+ T cells. The data suggest that the administration of staphylococcal enterotoxin B prevented the antigen-induced expansion of V beta 8+ T cells resulting in a state of responsiveness or anergy, thus preventing the manifestations of immediate hypersensitivity. Bacterial toxins may provide a novel approach to intervention in allergic or autoimmune diseases.
Gelfand
E W
EW
Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA.
Saloga
J
J
Lack
G
G
D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D004768:Enterotoxins; D018089:Superantigens; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D010047:Ovalbumin