Enterotoxins: Synthetic Peptide Approach to Study of Structure/Function and Immune Properties

摘要

The staphylococcal enterotoxins are the causative agents of staphylococcal food poisoning which is manifested by emesis and diarrhea. We have shown that the enterotoxins are T-cell mitogens, induce gamma interferon (IFN) production in the mouse and human systems, and inhibit the antibody response via activation of suppressor T cells. Others have also shown that enterotoxins are T-cell mitogens. Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) is probably the most potent activator of lymphocytes known, since as little as 10 to the minus 13th power M can cause significant mitogenesis or production of IFN. The mechanism of action of the enterotoxins in induction of emetic effects is not known, but the above observation concerning the immune system, combined with the fact that lymphocyte infiltration of the gut is characteristic of the action of the enterotoxins, would suggest that the immune system plays an important role in enterotoxin effects. The emetic effects occur indirectly, for example, via the production of an emetic lymphokine by lymphocytes stimulated by the enterotoxins. The potent effects of enterotoxins on the immune system can serve as the basis for structural studies of the binding site on enterotoxin for its membrane receptor and for the use of synthetic peptides as immunogens to produce protective antibodies to block the action of enterotoxins. The findings of such studies should be applicable to the blockage of the emetic effects of enterotoxins.