Santolaya M E
Unidad de Infecciosos, Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna.
Rev Med Chil. 1998 Jul;126(7):846-54.
Exogenous antigens are presented to T lymphocytes through mechanisms that ensure high recognition specificity. Recently described superantigens in contrast to conventional antigens are particles that follow a different processing and presentation route not binding to a specific region of T lymphocyte receptors. These particles bind to a large number of T lymphocytes, generating a disproportionate and non-specific immune response. Two types of superantigens have been described. Endogenous superantigens, transported in the host genoma, have been involved in clonal depletion and immunological tolerance phenomena. Exogenous superantigens, mainly bacterial toxins, have been involved in several diseases. There is evidence that these antigens participate in diseases such as Kawasaki disease, toxic shock caused by Staphylococcus aureus, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV infection and Streptococcus pyogenes infections.
外源性抗原通过确保高识别特异性的机制呈递给T淋巴细胞。与传统抗原相比，最近描述的超抗原是遵循不同加工和呈递途径的颗粒，它们不与T淋巴细胞受体的特定区域结合。这些颗粒与大量T淋巴细胞结合，产生不成比例的非特异性免疫反应。已描述了两种类型的超抗原。内源性超抗原在宿主基因组中运输，参与克隆清除和免疫耐受现象。外源性超抗原主要是细菌毒素，与多种疾病有关。有证据表明，这些抗原参与诸如川崎病、金黄色葡萄球菌引起的中毒性休克、类风湿性关节炎、HIV感染和化脓性链球菌感染等疾病。
