Superantigens

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-IX

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2. Molecular Genetics of Pyrogenic Exotoxin “Superantigens” of Group A Streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus

   • P. K. Lee, P. M. Schlievert

   Pages 1-19

3. T Cell Recognition of Superantigens

   • T. Herrmann, H. R. MacDonald

   Pages 21-38

4. T Cell Activation by Superantigens—Dependence on MHC Class II Molecules

   • H. O. Sjögren

   Pages 39-51

5. The Human T Cell Response to Mitogenic Microbial Exotoxins

   • B. Fleischer

   Pages 53-62

6. Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin-1, Toxic Shock, and the Immune System

   • T. Chatila, P. Scholl, F. Spertini, N. Ramesh, N. Trede, R. Fuleihan et al.

   Pages 63-79

7. Staphylococcal Enterotoxin-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity

   • T. Kalland, G. Hedlund, M. Dohlsten, P. A. Lando

   Pages 81-92

8. CD4/CD8 Coreceptor-Independent Costimulator-Dependent Triggering of SEB-Reactive Murine T Cells

   • K. Heeg, T. Miethke, P. Bader, S. Bendigs, C. Wahl, H. Wagner

   Pages 93-106

9. The Immunobiology of Mycoplasma arthritidis and its Superantigen MAM

   • B. C. Cole

   Pages 107-119

10. The Anti-CD3-Induced Syndrome: A Consequence of Massive In Vivo Cell Activation

    • L. Chatenoud, C. Ferran, J.-F. Bach

    Pages 121-134

11. Back Matter

    Pages 135-140

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This volume of Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology is concerned with a class of molecules that are the most potent polyclonal stimulators of T lymphocytes of several species. These molecules have been named "superantigens" because they use a mechanism of T cell stimulation closely mimicking MHC-restricted recognition of specific antigen: they act on variable parts of T cell antigen receptors and are presented by MHC class II molecules. Prototypes of these molecules are the pyrogenic exotoxins produced by S. aureus and S. pyogenes, of which the staphylococcal enterotoxins and the toxic shock syndrome toxin are the best known. Superantigens also occur endogen­ ously in mice, most notably the enigmatic Mis determinants, that have withstood characterization for nearly 20 years. Only very recently was it found that Mis is probably encoded by endogenous retroviruses. The list of candidates that are implicated as being superantigens is growing. In many cases, however, the proof that a given molecule indeed falls into this category is still missing.

• Antigen
• Enterotoxine
• Gift
• Infektionskrankheit
• T lymphocytes
• T-Lymphozyten
• Toxine, bakterielle
• Toxischer Schock
• enterotoxins
• toxic shock syndrome
• toxins, bacterial

• Pathophysiology Section, First Department of Medicine, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany

  Bernhard Fleischer

• Wallenberg Laboratory, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden

  Hans Olov Sjögren

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