The contribution of microbial superantigens to pediatric infectious disease

摘要

Superantigens are products of bacteria and viruses that can bind with high affinity to major histocompatibility complex class II antigens on antigen-presenting cells and stimulate T cells expressing specific variable regions on the T-cell receptor p-chain. A large fraction of T cells are stimulated. The T cell and antigen-presenting cell stimulation by superantigens lead to the massive release of lymphokines and cytokines that account for the symptoms of several human infectious diseases, including toxic shock syndrome and staphylococcal food poisoning. Recent data suggest that the pathogenesis of other infectious disease may be explained by superantigens, including Kawasaki syndrome and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Superantigens may contribute to the symptoms of other infections and offer insights to identify the cause, understand the pathogenesis, and develop new approaches to therapy of infectious diseases.