Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is a bacterial superantigen (SAg) that predominantly interacts with V(beta)8+ T cells. In vivo treatment of mice with SEB leads to an initial increase in the percentage of V(beta)8+ T cells, followed by a decrease in the numbers of these cells, eventually reaching lower levels than those found before treatment with the SAg. This decrease is due to apoptosis of the SEB-responding cells. In the present study, we use the distinct light scattering characteristics of apoptotic cells to characterize T cells that are being deleted in response to SEB in vivo. We show that dying, SEB-reactive T cells express high levels of Fas and Fas ligand (Fas-L), which are implicated in apoptotic cell death. In addition, the B cell marker B220 is upregulated on apoptotic cells. Moreover, we show that the generation of cells with an apoptotic phenotype is severely impaired in response to SEB in functional Fas-L-deficient mutant gld mice, confirming the role of the Fas pathway in SAg mediated peripheral deletion in vivo.
Article|
February 01 1996
Peripheral T cells undergoing superantigen-induced apoptosis in vivo express B220 and upregulate Fas and Fas ligand.
T Renno,
T Renno
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
Search for other works by this author on:
M Hahne,
M Hahne
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
Search for other works by this author on:
J Tschopp,
J Tschopp
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
Search for other works by this author on:
H R MacDonald
H R MacDonald
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
Search for other works by this author on:
T Renno
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
M Hahne
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
J Tschopp
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
H R MacDonald
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1996) 183 (2): 431–437.
Citation
T Renno, M Hahne, J Tschopp, H R MacDonald; Peripheral T cells undergoing superantigen-induced apoptosis in vivo express B220 and upregulate Fas and Fas ligand.. J Exp Med 1 February 1996; 183 (2): 431–437. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.183.2.431
Download citation file: