The Library
The bacterial superantigen streptococcal mitogenic exotoxin Z is the major immunoactive agent of Streptococcus pyogenes
Tools
Unnikrishnan, Meera, Altmann, Daniel M., Proft, Thomas, Wahid, Faisal, Cohen, Jonathan, Fraser, John D. and Sriskandan, Shiranee (2002) The bacterial superantigen streptococcal mitogenic exotoxin Z is the major immunoactive agent of Streptococcus pyogenes. Journal of Immunology, Volume 169 (Number 5). pp. 2561-2569. ISSN 0022-1767.
Research output not available from this repository.
Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.
Official URL: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/169/5/2561.long
Abstract
The gene encoding streptococcal mitogenic exotoxin Z (SMEZ) was disrupted in Streptococcus pyogenes. Despite the presence of other superantigen genes, mitogenic responses in human and murine HLA-DQ transgenic cells were abrogated when cells were stimulated with supernatant from the smez(-) mutant compared with the parent strain. Remarkably, disruption of smez led to a complete inability to elicit cytokine production (TNF-alpha, lymphotoxin-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-1 and -8) from human cells, when cocultured with streptococcal supernatants. The potent effects of SMEZ were apparent even though transcription and expression of SMEZ were barely detectable. Human Vbeta8(+) T cell proliferation in response to S. pyogenes was SMEZ-dependent. Cells from HLA-DQ8 transgenic mice were 3 logs more sensitive to SMEZ-13 than cells from HLA-DR1 transgenic or wild-type mice. In the mouse, SMEZ targeted the human Vbeta8(+) TCR homologue, murine Vbeta11, at the expense of other TCR T cell subsets. Expression of SMEZ did not affect bacterial clearance or survival from peritoneal streptococcal infection in HLA-DQ8 mice, though effects of SMEZ on pharyngeal infection are unknown. Infection did lead to a rise in Vbeta11(+) T cells in the spleen which was partly reversed by disruption of the smez gene. Most strikingly, a clear rise in murine Vbeta4(+) cells was seen in mice infected with the smez(-) mutant S. pyogenes strain, indicating a potential role for SMEZ as a repressor of cognate anti-streptococcal responses.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subjects: | Q Science > QR Microbiology | ||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Biomedical Sciences > Microbiology & Infection Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School |
||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Streptococcus pyogenes, Superantigens, Mitogens, Bacterial antigens | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Immunology | ||||
Publisher: | American Association of Immunologists | ||||
ISSN: | 0022-1767 | ||||
Official Date: | 1 September 2002 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Volume: | Volume 169 | ||||
Number: | Number 5 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 2561-2569 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||
Funder: | Medical Research Council (Great Britain) (MRC) | ||||
Grant number: | G108/245 (MRC) |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |