Staphylococcal Enterotoxins A,D, and E |
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| Authors: | L. Anders Svensson Elinor M. Schad Michael Sundström Per Antonsson Terje Kalland Mikael Dohlsten |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Lund University , Lund, Sweden;2. Pharmacia &3. Upjohn , Stockholm, Sweden;4. Upjohn , Lund, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are a family of structurally related exotoxin molecules produced by certain Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains. SEs are a major cause of food poisoning and are involved in bacterial Gram-positive shock in humans. SEs bind to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and subsequently activate a large fraction, 5–20%, of T lymphocytes (1). This property has led to their classification of superantigens (SAg). The T cells are activated by SAg to proliferate and produce cytokines such as interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor-α and β (TNF-α and β) (2,3). Depending on origin, superantigens can be divided in two groups, viral and bacterial. For reviews see Refs. 4–8. |
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