Oral Administration of the Bacterial Superantigen Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B Induces Activation and Cytokine Production by T Cells in Murine Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue

Abstract

The toxicity of the staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) has been linked to the activation of large numbers of T cells in the peripheral lymphoid tissues. Because the primary manifestations of foodborne enterotoxic poisoning are associated with the gastrointestinal tract, we have compared the responses of T cells in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue and in the periphery to intragastric (i.g.) and i.p. administration of SEB. Intraperitoneal SEB results in an early expansion of peripheral Vβ8+ T cells and Th1 cytokine secretion followed by deletion at 7–10 days. We found that i.g. SEB rapidly (within 4 h) leads to the expansion and activation of Vβ8+ T cells in the Peyer’s patch and mesenteric lymph nodes. Analysis of cytokine mRNA in purified Vβ8+ T cells by competitive RT-PCR showed that, 4 h after i.g. SEB, the induction of mRNA for IL-2 and IFN-γ is about 10-fold greater in mucosal than in peripheral lymphoid tissue. Our results show that activated mucosal T cells expand and up-regulate cytokine mRNA in response to luminal exposure to SEB, suggesting a role for the gut-associated lymphoid tissue in the gastrointestinal manifestations of enterotoxic poisoning.