6533b85ffe1ef96bd12c1060

RESEARCH PRODUCT

The Human T Cell Response to Mitogenic Microbial Exotoxins

subject

description

Nearly every infectious pathogen has to cope with the host’s adaptive immune response. Common evasion mechanisms in this complex interaction are antigenic variations, the escape to immunologically privileged sites, or the use of immunosuppressive mechanisms. Many bacteria and other microorganisms elaborate soluble factors or toxins that act suppressively on cells of the immune system, such as pore-forming molecules or proteins that interfere with the function of G proteins. Gram-positive cocci and a mycoplasma have developed an extremely potent mechanism of T cell stimulation by closely mimicking recognition of specific antigen. From the functional similarity to antigen recognition and the multiclonal activation of T cells, the designation “superantigen” has been suggested for these molecules (White et al. 1989). This review will focus on the action of the microbial toxins on human T cells.