Hartwig U F, Gerlach D, Fleischer B
First Department of Medicine, University of Mainz, Germany.
Med Microbiol Immunol. 1994 Nov;183(5):257-64. doi: 10.1007/BF00198459.
Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SPEA) is an important pathogenicity factor of group A streptococci. It is a member of the family of "superantigens" produced by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes and its T lymphocyte stimulating activity is involved into the pathogenesis of certain diseases caused by pyogenic streptococci. In this study we have produced and characterized recombinant SPEA molecules in Escherichia coli. These molecules are indistinguishable from natural SPEA in both T cell stimulatory and HLA class II binding activities. Human class II molecules are more efficient than mouse class II molecules in presenting SPEA to T cells. In binding tests to major histocompatibility complex class II-positive cells SPEA competes with staphylococcal enterotoxin B and A but not with toxic shock syndrome toxin-1.
A组链球菌致热外毒素A（SPEA）是A组链球菌的一种重要致病因子。它是由金黄色葡萄球菌和化脓性链球菌产生的“超抗原”家族的成员，其T淋巴细胞刺激活性参与了化脓性链球菌引起的某些疾病的发病机制。在本研究中，我们在大肠杆菌中产生并鉴定了重组SPEA分子。这些分子在T细胞刺激活性和HLA-II类结合活性方面与天然SPEA没有区别。人类II类分子在将SPEA呈递给T细胞方面比小鼠II类分子更有效。在与主要组织相容性复合体II类阳性细胞的结合试验中，SPEA与葡萄球菌肠毒素B和A竞争，但不与中毒性休克综合征毒素-1竞争。
