Selective depletion of V beta-bearing T cells in patients with severe invasive group A streptococcal infections and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Ontario Streptococcal Study Project

J Infect Dis. 1995 Jan;171(1):74-84. doi: 10.1093/infdis/171.1.74.

Abstract

The V beta repertoire of T cells of patients with gram-positive group A streptococcal (GAS) and non-GAS infections was analyzed to seek evidence for the role of superantigens in streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. No evidence of V beta overexpression but a consistent pattern of depletion of V beta 1, V beta 5.1, and V beta 12 was observed in patients with severe GAS infections. This pattern of V beta depletion was not observed in patients with nonsevere GAS infections or with severe non-GAS gram-positive infections. T cells from patients with severe GAS infections showed evidence of apoptosis; no apoptosis was found when there was no evidence of V beta depletion. There was no correlation with streptococcal M or T serotype or known spe genes. The depletion of specific V beta-bearing T cells in patients with severe GAS infections supports the role of a superantigen in these infections. The in vivo pattern of V beta specificity implicates a novel superantigen(s) in this disease.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigens, Bacterial*
  • Apoptosis
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins*
  • Bacterial Proteins / analysis
  • Base Sequence
  • Carrier Proteins*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Exotoxins / biosynthesis
  • Exotoxins / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins*
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / analysis*
  • Shock, Septic / immunology*
  • Shock, Septic / microbiology
  • Streptococcal Infections / immunology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / classification
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / genetics
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / immunology*
  • Superantigens / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Exotoxins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • SpeA protein, Streptococcus pyogenes
  • Superantigens
  • erythrogenic toxin
  • streptococcal M protein