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Interplay between superantigens and the immune system
Author(s) -
Irwin Michael J.,
Gascoigne Nicholas R.J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.54.5.495
Subject(s) - superantigen , biology , toxic shock syndrome , immune system , major histocompatibility complex , immunology , t cell receptor , t cell , staphylococcus aureus , genetics , bacteria
Abstract Superantigens interact with the immune system by binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHG) class II proteins and activating T cells through the variable region of the T cell receptor β‐chain. Through this means they can cause massive proliferation and then death of a large proportion of T cells. Superantigens are produced by bacteria, mycoplasmas, retroviruses, and probably by other organisms. In some cases, the superantigen is crucial to the organism's life cycle. Mouse mammary tumor virus disseminates by activating T cells which stimulate the proliferation of B cells harboring the virus. In other cases, the superantigen may be responsible for the pathogenesis of the infection, such as in the case of Toxic Shock Syndrome. In this article, we review information on the diseases in which superantigens are involved, and the mechanisms by which the superantigens interact with T cell receptor and class II molecules.