Biologic effects of bacterial superantigens in a xenogeneic transplantation model for psoriasis

Abstract

Both clinical as well as experimental data support the concept of psoriasis being a T-cell-mediated immune disease possibly triggered by bacterial superantigens. Further analysis of its pathogenesis was facilitated by the generation of a xenogeneic transplantation model in which skin from psoriatic patients is grafted onto SCID mice lacking functional B and T cells. Applying this model it was demonstrated that psoria-sis can be triggered by bacterial superantigens; this process depends on the presence of immunocytes. Mutated variants of the respective superantigens exhibiting no measurable affinity to HLA class II molecules can function as competitive inhibitors in vivo. Copyright © 2001 by The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc.