SUPERANTIGEN AS A MODIFYING FACTOR IN HIV-INFECTION

Superantigen is characterized as a potent stimulator of T cells throug h its unique interaction with major histocompatibility complex class I I molecule and the V-<beta> chain of T cell receptor. It has been repo rted that. symptoms in several infectious diseases are associated with superantigen activity, i.e., abnormal reaction due to excess activati on of T cells. However, the implications of superantigen in human immu nodeficiency virus (HIV) infections have not been well elucidated. In this article, we review the possible mechanisms by which superantigens may modify HIV infections. In conclusion, superantigen is considered to be a factor that aggravates the immunodeficient state in HIV-infect ed patients through activation of HIV expression in infected T cells a nd monocytes, and facilitation of CD4 T cell depletion. Since exogenou s superantigen is most likely to be provided by microbial infections s uch as Staphylococcus aureus infection, countermeasures against these complicating infections may be important to avert the detrimental impa ct of superantigens.