Evidence for a viral superantigen in humans. |
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Authors: | M Lafon M Lafage A Martinez-Arends R Ramirez F Vuillier D Charron V Lotteau D Scott-Algara |
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Institution: | Unité de la Rage, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. |
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Abstract: | Superantigens bind class II major histocompatibility proteins and stimulate powerful proliferative responses of T lymphocytes bearing particular V beta sequences as part of their alpha beta antigen receptor. Exogenous bacterial superantigens are responsible for food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. Murine virus-encoded self-superantigens induce clonal deletion of T lymphocytes. Although superantigen-like properties have been suggested for human immunodeficiency virus-1, no viral superantigen has been identified in humans. Here we report that the nucleocapsid of the rabies virus is an exogenous superantigen specific for V beta 8 human T lymphocytes which binds to HLA class II alpha-chains. |
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