Update on staphylococcal superantigen-induced signaling pathways and therapeutic interventions.
Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and related bacterial toxins cause diseases in humans and laboratory animals ranging from food poisoning, acute lung injury to toxic shock. These superantigens bind directly to the major histocompatibility complex class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells and specific Vβ regions of T-cell receptors (TCR), resulting in rapid hyper-activation of the host immune system. In addition to TCR and co-stimulatory signals, proinflammatory mediators activate signaling pathways culminating in cell-stress response, activation of NFκB and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). This article presents a concise review of superantigen-activated signaling pathways and focuses on the therapeutic challenges against bacterial superantigens.
Department of Immunology, Integrated Toxicology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702 5011, USA. teresa.krakauer@us.army.mil.
Teresa
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Krakauer
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013209:Staphylococcal Vaccines; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000633:toxicity*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D004768:Enterotoxins; D020011:Protective Agents; D013209:Staphylococcal Vaccines; D018089:Superantigens; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal