title: Unexpected heterogeneity of multifunctional T cells in response to superantigen stimulation in humans.
abstract: Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a potentially life threatening condition characterized by fever, rash, shock, and multi-organ failure. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is a well characterized superantigen that has been shown to play an important role in TSS. Although the precise mechanisms by which SEB and other superantigens cause TSS are unknown, induction of a pro-inflammatory cytokine cascade appears central to this phenomenon. We show that CD4+ and CD8+ Teffector/memory (T(EM)) and other subsets produce IL-17A following SEB stimulation. We also show that IL-17A is co-produced with other pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α). These responses are significantly different than those elicited by mitogenic stimulation. Multifunctional IL-17A producing cells possess markers typical of the T(H)17/T(C)17 and T(H)1 subsets, including CCR6, IL-22, and transcription factors retinoic acid receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor (ROR)-γt and T-bet. These results suggest a possible role for IL-17A-producing multifunctional T cells in the pathogenesis of TSS.
authors: Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21201, USA.
authors: Monica A
authors: MA
authors: McArthur
authors: Marcelo B
authors: MB
authors: Sztein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004768:Enterotoxins; D020381:Interleukin-17; D018089:Superantigens; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal