Major histocompatibility complex class II-associated peptides control the presentation of bacterial superantigens to T cells.
Recent studies have shown that only a subset of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules are able to present bacterial superantigens to T cells, leading to the suggestion that class-II associated peptides may influence superantigen presentation. Here, we have assessed the potential role of peptides on superantigen presentation by (a) analyzing the ability of superantigens to block peptide-specific T cell responses and (b) analyzing the ability of individual peptides to promote superantigen presentation on I-Ab-expressing T2 cells that have a quantitative defect in antigen processing. A series of peptides is described that specifically promote either toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST) 1 or staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) presentation. Whereas some peptides promoted the presentation of TSST-1 (almost 5,000-fold in the case of one peptide), other peptides promoted the presentation of SEA. These data demonstrate that MHC class II-associated peptides differentially influence the presentation of bacterial superantigens to T cells.
Wen
R
R
Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA.
Cole
G A
GA
Surman
S
S
Blackman
M A
MA
Woodland
D L
DL
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002460:Cell Line; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D006825:Hybridomas; D007700:Kinetics; D007739:L Cells; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D018089:Superantigens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D010455:Peptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018089:Superantigens; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal; C026066:enterotoxin A, Staphylococcal