Oral administration of the bacterial superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B induces activation and cytokine production by T cells in murine gut-associated lymphoid tissue.
The toxicity of the staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) has been linked to the activation of large numbers of T cells in the peripheral lymphoid tissues. Because the primary manifestations of foodborne enterotoxic poisoning are associated with the gastrointestinal tract, we have compared the responses of T cells in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue and in the periphery to intragastric (i.g.) and i.p. administration of SEB. Intraperitoneal SEB results in an early expansion of peripheral Vbeta8+ T cells and Th1 cytokine secretion followed by deletion at 7-10 days. We found that i.g. SEB rapidly (within 4 h) leads to the expansion and activation of Vbeta8+ T cells in the Peyer's patch and mesenteric lymph nodes. Analysis of cytokine mRNA in purified Vbeta8+ T cells by competitive RT-PCR showed that, 4 h after i.g. SEB, the induction of mRNA for IL-2 and IFN-gamma is about 10-fold greater in mucosal than in peripheral lymphoid tissue. Our results show that activated mucosal T cells expand and up-regulate cytokine mRNA in response to luminal exposure to SEB, suggesting a role for the gut-associated lymphoid tissue in the gastrointestinal manifestations of enterotoxic poisoning.
Spiekermann
G M
GM
Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown 02129, USA.
Nagler-Anderson
C
C
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008643:Mesentery; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D004768:Enterotoxins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D018089:Superantigens; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal