Evidence for B cell participation in the in vitro and in vivo maintenance of in vivo staphylococcal enterotoxin B-induced T cell anergy

• Published in: International immunology Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 65 - 72
• Main Authors: Stark Aroeira, L, Williams, O, Borlado, L R, Carrera, A C, Martinez, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford Publishing Limited (England) 01.01.1997
• Subjects: Animals; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cells, Cultured; Clonal Anergy - drug effects; Enterotoxins - pharmacology; Female; Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck); Lymphopenia - genetics; Macrophages - immunology; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Mutant Strains; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; src-Family Kinases - metabolism; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus aureus - immunology
• ISSN: 0953-8178; 1460-2377; 1460-2377
• DOI: 10.1093/intimm/9.1.65

The mechanisms involved in the maintenance of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-induced T cell anergy are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that CD4+ T cell anergy induced by SEB treatment is under partial B cell control. This effect is not mediated by anti-SEB antibodies or any in vitro B cell-produced suppresser factor. At day 13 after SEB immunization, T cells from B cell-deficient mice proliferate upon in vitro stimulation with SEB. These results suggest that SEB-induced T cell anergy is reversible and that B cells have an important function in anergy maintenance in CD4+ T cells, both in vivo and in vitro.