Synovial fibroblasts as accessory cells for staphylococcal enterotoxin-mediated T-cell activation

• Published in: Immunology 1995-07, Vol.85 (3), p.461-466
• Main Authors: Kraft, M, Filsinger, S, Krämer, K L, Kabelitz, D, Hänsch, G M, Schoels, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antigen-Presenting Cells - immunology; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - immunology; Cell Division - immunology; Cells, Cultured; Clone Cells - immunology; Enterotoxins - immunology; Fibroblasts - immunology; HLA-D Antigens - analysis; Humans; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - immunology; Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis; Lymphocyte Activation - immunology; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus aureus - immunology; Superantigens - immunology; Synovial Membrane - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology
• ISSN: 0019-2805; 1365-2567

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is thought to be the result of T-cell-mediated autoimmune phenomena. So far, a critical autoantigen has not been identified. Recently, superantigens have been implied in the pathogenesis of RA. In the present study it was tested whether major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-positive synovial fibroblast cells (SFC) function as superantigen-presenting cells. SFC were stimulated with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) to express class II antigens; then they were cultivated in the presence of T cells with or without staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE). T-cell activation was measured as proliferation and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. Depending on the dose and type of SE, activation of T-cell clones and also of peripheral T cells was seen. T-cell activation was inhibited by antibodies to MHC class II antigens and also by antibodies to intracellular adhesion molecule type-1 (ICAM-1). The data suggest that class II-positive SFC have the capacity to serve as accessory cells for superantigen-mediated T-cell activation. Thus SFC may participate in the propagation of a T-cell dependent immune response.