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Superantigenic Toxins

  • Chapter
Bacterial Protein Toxins

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 145))

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Summary

“Superantigens” is the designation for a heterogeneous group of proteins that use a common, extremely efficient mechanism of T-lymphocyte stimulation. They bind to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-II molecules on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and to various parts of the T cell receptor (TCR) on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, thus mimicking the recognition of specific antigens. The prototype superantigen is staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) B, member of a family of genetically related pyrogenic exotoxins (PET) produced by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. This principle of T-lymphocyte stimulation has evolved independently because of infectious pathogens.

Investigations by a number of laboratories have elucidated the unusual mechanism of T-lymphocyte stimulation and have shown that the pathogenic effects of these molecules are due to their ability to stimulate a large fraction of T cells. Consequences of confronting the body with superantigenic toxins are shock (mediated by a massive liberation of cytokines from cells of the immune system) and immunosuppression, probably caused by an uncoordinated activation of the immune system and a massive deletion of T cells.

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Authors
  1. B. Fleischer
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  1. Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 5, 79104, Freiburg i. Br., Germany

    Klaus Aktories  & Ingo Just  & 

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© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Fleischer, B. (2000). Superantigenic Toxins. In: Aktories, K., Just, I. (eds) Bacterial Protein Toxins. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 145. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05971-5_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05971-5_26

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-08540-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-05971-5

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