K. Imanishi et al., TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR PRODUCTION BY HUMAN T-CELLS STIMULATED WITH BACTERIAL SUPERANTIGENS, International journal of immunopharmacology, 17(10), 1995, pp. 841-848
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production from T-cells stimulated with su
perantigenic exotoxins, staphylococcal enterotoxin B and streptococcal
pyrogenic exotoxin A was investigated in the presence of cells bearin
g distinct isotypes of HLA class II molecules. The main T-cell subset
for TNF production was investigated in parallel. Similarly high levels
of TNF production were induced upon stimulation with the toxins in th
e presence of DR(+) or DQ(+) cells, but only marginal levels of TNF pr
oduction were induced in the presence of DP+ cells. Although both CD4(
+) T-cells and CD8(+) T-cells produced TNF-alpha and TNF-beta in respo
nse to toxin stimulation in the presence of HLA class II+ cells, the f
ormer T-cell subset was the major source of producers of TNF-alpha and
TNF-beta.