LANGERHANS CELL DEPLETION BY STAPHYLOCOCCAL SUPERANTIGENS

Superantigens were examined for effects on the distribution of Langerh ans' cells (LC) in mouse skin. This was accomplished by analysing the expression of LC-specific markers, ATPase and IA among the epidermal p ortion of cultured sections of mouse skin following treatment with sta phylococcal enterotoxins. In this study, treatment of skin sections wi th staphylococcal enterotoxin A or exfoliative toxin but not toxic sho ck syndrome toxin led to significant depletion of LC. This depletion w as inhibited by agents which specifically block the action of GTP bind ing proteins or their associated kinases (cholera and pertussis toxins and H-8) as well as those which block protein or RNA synthesis. There fore, signals which lead to LC depletion in response to staphylococcal enterotoxins appear to involve a cholera and pertussis toxin-sensitiv e GTP-binding protein and protein synthesis. These requirements are id entical to those observed previously for LC depletion following exposu re of skin to ultraviolet radiation.