title: B cell superantigens: potential modifiers of the normal human B cell repertoire.
abstract: Staphylococcal protein A (SPA), HIV gp120, and staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) are B cell superantigens that induce VH specific B cell responses. In addition, the red blood cell antigens, i/I, have some features of a B cell superantigen. Binding of SPA, SE and HIV gp120 are VH family specific, whereas binding of i/I is VH gene specific. SPA and HIV gp120 function by stimulating VH3-expressing B cells, whereas SE appear to function by enhancing survival of the appropriate VH-expressing B cells. Moreover, HIV gp120 has been shown to delete VH3-expressing B cells. In this review, we describe evidence that shows how these superantigens may play a role in shaping the normal B cell repertoire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 75235, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Domiati-Saad
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lipsky
mesh_terms: D000373:Agglutinins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003450:Cryoglobulins; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A / Q000378:metabolism; D018089:Superantigens / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000373:Agglutinins; D001323:Autoantibodies; D003450:Cryoglobulins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D018089:Superantigens; C029443:cold agglutinins