9 research outputs found
Impact of personal goals on the internal medicine R4 subspecialty match: a Q methodology study
The searchâinference framework: a proposed strategy for novice clinical problem solving
Serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoprotein E phenotypes in relatives of patients with type III hyperlipoproteinaemia
The effect of tibolone on the lipoprotein profile of postmenopausal women with type III hyperlipoproteinemia
MRSA Infections in HIV-Infected People Are Associated with Decreased MRSA-Specific Th1 Immunity
Toll-like Receptor 2 Ligands on the Staphylococcal Cell Wall Downregulate Superantigen-induced T Cell Activation and Prevent Toxic Shock Syndrome
Staphylococcal superantigens are pyrogenic exotoxins that cause massive T cell activation leading to toxic shock syndrome and death. Despite the strong adaptive immune response induced by these toxins, infections by superantigen-producing staphylococci are very common clinical events. We hypothesized that this may be partly a result of staphylococcal strains having developed strategies that downregulate the T cell response to these toxins. Here we show that the human interleukin-2 response to staphylococcal superantigens is inhibited by the simultaneous presence of bacteria. Such a downregulatory effect is the result of peptidoglycan-embedded molecules binding to Toll-like receptor 2 and inducing interleukin-10 production and apoptosis of antigen-presenting cells. We corroborated these findings in vivo by showing substantial prevention of mortality after simultaneous administration of staphylococcal enterotoxin B with either heat-killed staphylococci or Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan in mouse models of superantigen-induced toxic shock syndrome