title: Superantigens in skin diseases.
abstract: Superantigens are strong modulators of the immune system affecting T cells, antigen-presenting cells and other MHC class II-positive cells directly and many other cells indirectly, e.g. mast cells that have bound IgE specific for superantigens. The strong immunomodulatory effects, which are outlined in this article besides the biological properties of superantigens, strongly influence immunologically-mediated disorders including inflammatory skin diseases like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, which are the focus of this article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany. saloga@hautklinik.klinik.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saloga
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knop
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018089:Superantigens