EVIDENCE FOR B-CELL PARTICIPATION IN THE IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO MAINTENANCE OF IN-VIVO STAPHYLOCOCCAL-ENTEROTOXIN B-INDUCED T-CELL ANERGY

The mechanisms involved in the maintenance of staphylococcal enterotox in B (SEB)-induced T cell anergy are poorly understood. Here, we demon strate that CD4(+) T cell anergy induced by SEE treatment is under par tial B cell control. This effect is not mediated by anti-SEE antibodie s or any in vitro B cell-produced suppresser factor. At day 13 after S EE immunization, T cells from B cell-deficient mice proliferate upon i n vitro stimulation with SEE. These results suggest that SEE-induced T cell anergy is reversible and that B cells have an important function in anergy maintenance in CD4(+) T cells, both in vivo and in vitro.