6533b7d4fe1ef96bd1261f89
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Separation of T-cell-stimulating activity from streptococcal M protein
Bernhard FleischerK H SchmidtW. KöhlerD Gerlachsubject
AntigenicityMyeloma proteinT-LymphocytesT cellImmunologyExotoxinschemical and pharmacologic phenomenaBiologyLymphocyte Activationmedicine.disease_causeMicrobiologyMicrobiologyBacterial ProteinsAffinity chromatographymedicineSuperantigenHumansAntigens BacterialMembrane Proteinshemic and immune systemsInfectious Diseasesmedicine.anatomical_structureMembrane proteinStreptococcus pyogenesParasitologyMitogensCarrier ProteinsExotoxinBacterial Outer Membrane ProteinsResearch Articledescription
The superantigenic properties of M protein type 5 of Streptococcus pyogenes have been implicated as an important pathogenicity factor in streptococcal autoimmune diseases. Here we show that after a single purification step by affinity chromatography on immobilized albumin or fibrinogen, M protein has no mitogenic activity for T cells. We demonstrate that the superantigenicity of M proteins of type 5 and type 1 is due to contamination with the highly potent pyrogenic exotoxins of S. pyogenes in the range of 0.1 to 0.01%. These results raise a general caveat for work with these extremely active T-cell mitogens, because the mitogenicity of other streptococcal or staphylococcal proteins could be due to similar minute contamination with potent superantigens that are undetectable by any biochemical method but extremely effective in stimulating sensitive T cells.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-05-01 | Infection and Immunity |