Effects of staphylococcal enterotoxin B on T cell receptor Vβ utilization and clinical manifestations of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Bernadette Kalman, Fred D. Lublin, Edmund Lattime, Jeymohan Joseph, Robert L. Knobler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is a superantigen (SA) that up-regulates and then subsequently down-regulates and deletes T cells expressing Vβ8 T cell receptor (TcR) chains (Marrack and Kappler, 1990; Johnson et al., 1991). We have investigated the effect of SEB on experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in PL/J mice, where the predominant encephalitogenic T cells are Vβ8+ (Acha Orbea et al., 1988; Zamvil et al., 1988). SEB did not enhance induction of EAE when administered prior to or after immunization for EAE. PL/J mice pretreated with SEB developed anergy and deletion of Vβ8 bearing cells and concomitant reduction in the incidence of EAE. Following SEB pretreatment, a redistribution in the TcR utilization of MBP-specific lymphocytes occurred. As a result, there was a low frequency of Vβ8 and expansion of other, normally less frequent, myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific clones. These observations indicate that systemic exposure to superantigen can influence organ-specific autoimmune diseases. We observed Vβ-specific elimination, rather than activation, of autoimmune clones, a finding of potential therapeutic value. Modification of the TcR repertoire by systemic exposure to this SA indicates plasticity of immune reactivity and demonstrates a mechanism by which an environmental exposure (SEB) can influence a genetically determined, T cell mediated autoimmune disease.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)83-88
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Neuroimmunology
Volume45
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1993
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

Keywords

  • Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis
  • Superantigens
  • T cell receptor

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