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Stimulation of human T cells by microbial ‘superantigens’

  • Superantigens and Antigen-Presentation
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Summary

The enterotoxins and the TSST ofS. aureus, the erythrogenic toxins A and C ofS. pyogenes and a still uncharacterized exoprotein ofM. arthritidis belong to a family of exotoxins that have in common a potent mitogenic activity for T lymphocytes of several species. These proteins stimulate CD4+ and C8+ T cells, as well as a fraction of γδ TCR-bearing T cells by cross-linking variable parts of the T cell antigen receptor with MHC class II molecules on accessory or target cells. They are functionally bivalent molecules having distinct interaction sites for variable parts of the TCR and for nonpolymorphic parts of the MHC class II molecule. For αβ TCR-bearing T cells the Vβ is the dominant site of interaction with the toxins. However, there is only a preferential but not exclusive stimulation of T cells carrying a certain Vβ, because T cell clones carrying e.g. Vβ5 or Vβ8 can respond also to those toxins that do not stimulate Vβ5+ and Vβ8+ T cells in bulk cultures. Therefore, different TCR bind to these toxins with different affinities and the specificity of the TCR-toxin interaction is quantitative rather than qualitative in nature. Murine T cells respond to the mitogen ofM. arthritidis that is a natural pathogen for mice and rats much better than to the toxins of the human pathogenic bacteria, whereas the opposite is true for human T cells. This could indicate that the toxins have been adapted to the host's immune system in evolution. The T cell-stimulating activity contributes to the pathogenesis of the respective diseases.

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  1. First Department of Medicine, Pathophysiology Section, University of Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, D-W-6500, Mainz, (FRG)

    Bernhard Fleischer

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  1. Bernhard Fleischer
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Fleischer, B. Stimulation of human T cells by microbial ‘superantigens’. Immunol Res 10, 349–355 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02919720

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