A single injection of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B reduces autoimmunity in MRL/lpr mice.

MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice carry a mutation in the Fas gene whose product is involved in the regulation of lymphocyte apoptosis. This mutation is associated with the lpr phenomenon, i.e., a massive expansion of phenotypically abnormal CD4-CD8- cells ("double negative," DN) alpha/beta T cells (lpr cells) that becomes manifest at 3-4 months of age. As in normal mice, intravenous SEB injection into 2- or 6-month-old female MRL/lpr mice causes a transient expansion of SEB-reactive V beta 8+ T cells, followed by a deletion of this subset. In contrast, in the same animals, the frequency of abnormal V beta 8+CD4-CD8- cells is not modulated by SEB. Whereas DN T cells are completely resistant to SEB-mediated deletion in vivo, their precursors appear susceptible to SEB-induced deletion. Thus, a single injection of SEB prior to the surge of DN T cells in peripheral lymphoid organs, at 2 months of age, is sufficient to cause a stable long-term (6 months) deletion of DN cells. This is accompanied by a significant amelioration of autoimmune parameters (autoantibody titers, incidence of arthritis and nephritis), thus pointing to the feasibility of employing superantigens for simple manipulations of the immune repertoire that result in the long-term prophylaxis of autoimmune diseases.