title: B cell superantigens: possible roles in immunodeficiency and autoimmunity.
abstract: Lymphocyte antigen receptors have evolved for the discrimination of self and non-self structures and consequently the unconventional binding activities of superantigens pose a special set of potential hazards and opportunities for the immune system. This review presents recent evidence that certain naturally occurring proteins have the properties of B cell superantigens by virtue of their unconventional variable-region mediated interactions with soluble and membrane-bound immunoglobulins. The implications for B lymphocyte activation and clonal selection are discussed and we speculate how superantigens may influence the development of lymphocyte repertoires and the immune responses associated with certain autoimmune and immunodeficiency diseases.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093, USA.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000276:immunology; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000276:immunology; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D018089:Superantigens