CYTOKINE SECRETION INDUCED BY SUPERANTIGENS IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS, LAMINA PROPRIA LYMPHOCYTES, AND INTRAEPITHELIAL LYMPHOCYTES

Superantigens are potent inducers of T-cell proliferation and induce a broad range of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), gamm a interferon, and interleukin 2 (IL-2). In the present study, we compa red the abilities of different staphylococcal superantigens (staphyloc occal enterotoxin B [SEE], staphylococcal enterotoxin E [SEE], and tox ic shock syndrome toxin 1 [TSST-1]) to stimulate distinct cytokine pro files in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), lamina propria lym phocytes (LPL), and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL). One million PBM C, LPL, and IEL were stimulated with various concentrations of superan tigen (10 to 0.001 ng/ml) for 24, 48, and 72 h. Maximum cytokine produ ction by PBMC, LPL, and IEL was observed for all three superantigens a t 48 h at a concentration of 1 ng/ml. In PBMC, SEE and TSST-1 stimulat ed more IL-2 and gamma interferon than SEE. SEE and TSST-1 also stimul ated more TNF and IL-4 production than SEE. In contrast, SEE stimulate d more IL-6 than either SEE or TSST-1. In LPL, there was no SEE-induce d IL-2 or IL-4 production, but IL-6, TNF, and gamma interferon were in duced. SEE similarly induced no IL-2 or gamma interferon from the LPL, but IL-4, IL-6, and TNF were detected. TSST-1 stimulation of LPL resu lted in IL-2 and TNF production but no IL-4, IL-6, or gamma interferon . In IEL, SEE induced no IL-2, IL-4, or gamma interferon but produced IL-6 and TNF, while SEE stimulation resulted in no IL-2 or gamma inter feron but did result in detectable IL-4, IL-6, and TNF. TSST-1 stimula tion of IEL produced no IL-2, gamma interferon, or IL-6 but did induce IL-4 and TNF. Taken together, these data indicate that there are sign ificant differences in the cytokine profiles induced by superantigens in LPL and IEL compared with those in PBMC, and these differences may relate to differences in activation requirements.