ABSTRACT Endogenous superantigen-mediated thymic negative selection resulted in a paucity of mature T cells bearing T-cell receptor (TCR) Vβ8 in the periphery. Consequently, the magnitude of immune response to exogenous superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B, which activates TCR Vβ8 + T cells, was significantly reduced and conferred protection from superantigen-induced mortality.
In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Staphylococcal Superantigen Peptide Antagonists
Infection and Immunity | October 22, 2004 | Volume: 72 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 6733-6737
ABSTRACTSuperantigen peptide antagonists failed to block T-cell activation and cytokine production as well as toxic shock induced by staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in HLA class II transgenic mice. They also failed to inhibit the binding of SEB to HLA class II molecules as well as activation of human T lymphocytes in vitro.