Cutting edge: apoptosis of superantigen-activated T cells occurs preferentially after a discrete number of cell divisions in vivo.
J Immunol
; 162(11): 6312-5, 1999 Jun 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10352241
ABSTRACT
Staphylococcal enterotoxins are bacterial products that display superantigen activity in vitro as well as in vivo. For instance, staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) polyclonally activates T cells that bear the Vbeta8 gene segment of the TCR. SEB-activated T cells undergo a burst of proliferation that is followed by apoptosis. Using an in vivo adaptation of a fluorescent cell division monitoring technique, we show here that SEB-activated T cells divide asynchronously, and that apoptosis of superantigen-activated T cells is preferentially restricted to cells which have undergone a discrete number of cell divisions. Collectively, our data suggest that superantigen-activated T cells are programmed to undergo a fixed number of cell divisions before undergoing apoptosis. A delayed death program may provide a mechanistic compromise between effector functions and homeostasis of activated T cells.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Lymphocyte Activation
/
T-Lymphocytes
/
Apoptosis
/
Superantigens
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
J Immunol
Year:
1999
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Switzerland