SEB活化的人外周血T细胞CD25,CD69的表达

本文用超抗原葡萄球菌肠毒素B(SEB)诱导外周血淋巴细胞增殖。结果显示出微量超抗原能诱导外周血淋巴细胞的增殖,大量的增殖反应发生在SEB刺激后的第5天,增殖的细胞是CD4~+T细胞,它们由刺激前的27％增加到42％。外周血活化的T细胞不依赖外源性IL-2:大量内源性IL-2的存在抑制T细胞的增殖反应。伴随CD4~+T细胞的增殖,CD25和CD69分子表达明显增加。提示SEB能改变外周血T细胞表面的分子表达。     

SEB诱导的CD4+ T细胞无能、凋亡及MHC-I类分子表达下调

目的：探讨超抗原金黄色葡萄球菌肠毒素（SEB）体外诱导外周T细胞免疫耐受的作用机制。方法：采用SEB体外刺激C57BL/6J（B6）小鼠的脾细胞后，以MTT比色法检测脾细胞的增殖，并用PI染色后以流式细胞术（FCM）分析不同时间段处于S期，G0-G1期的细胞及无能T细胞的凋亡，测定T细胞亚群及MHC-I（H-2K^b)表达的变化。用琼脂糖凝胶电泳，观察不同时间段凋亡T细胞的DNA特征。结果：部分去除CD8^ T细胞后。SEB可刺激B6小鼠脾细胞中CD4^ T细胞大量增殖，在SEB刺激后第3天，CD4^ T细胞中处于S期的比率最大，此后开始下降；而处于G0-G1期的CD4^ T细胞变化则相反，在初次刺激后第3天，增殖的CD4^ T细胞出现无能，FCM检测及用琼脂糖凝胶电泳检查DNAladder证实，在第7天，无能CD4^ T细胞出现凋亡，且凋亡细胞的比率逐渐增多，不因加入抗CD3抗体或CoN A而逆转，在SEB刺激后，CD4^ T细胞表面MHC-I类分子（H-2K^b)的表达，随细胞无能的出现而明显下调。结论：SEB诱导的T细胞免疫耐受，可能与CD4^ T细胞的无能，凋亡及细胞表面分子MHC-I的表达下调有关。     

CpGODN对树突状细胞抗肝癌作用的影响

目的:研究CpGODN在BALB/C小鼠骨髓来源树突状细胞(BMDC)抗肝癌免疫中的作用。方法:CpGODN联合肿瘤抗原(TAg)体外刺激BMDC,流式细胞术检测受刺激BMDC表达CD80的阳性率,ELISA检测受刺激BMDC分泌IL-12(p70)的水平,MTT法检测活化BMDC刺激T细胞的增殖能力,联合CpGODN和TAg体内预激小鼠获得CTL,检测CTL对肝癌细胞株Hca-F的特异性杀伤作用。结果:CpGODN联合TAg体外可明显激活BMDC,诱导BMDC膜表面CD80的表达,刺激BMDC分泌高水平IL-12,促进BMDC刺激T淋巴细胞增殖;体内联合应用CpGODN和TAg诱导的CTL对Hca-F具有强大的特异性杀伤作用,其诱导作用明显强于TAg,与细菌脂多糖和金黄色葡萄球菌肠毒素B相近。结论:CpGODN体外能有效促进小鼠BMDC的分化、增殖和成熟,体内与TAg联合应用可显著增强CTL对肿瘤细胞的特异性杀伤作用。     

负载滋养层细胞抗原对小鼠树突状细胞表型及功能的影响

目的 研究负载滋养层细胞抗原对小鼠髓源性树突状细胞(DC)分化成熟过程的影响,获得致耐受性DC.方法 体外使用粒细胞巨细胞集落刺激因子(GM-CSF)诱导小鼠骨髓细胞定向分化、经LPS刺激获得成熟DC;通过外胎盘锥组织块培养法获得滋养层细胞,制备可溶性抗原,加入DC培养体系.流式细胞术检测DC表面共刺激分子及MHC-Ⅱ的表达,ELISA法检测DC分泌IL-10和IL-12的浓度,混合淋巴细胞培养评估 DC刺激同种T细胞增殖、活化的功能.结果 成熟DC表型为CD40high CD80highCD86highMHC-Ⅱhigh,分泌大量的IL-12和极少量的IL-10 ,体外能有效刺激T细胞的增殖;负载滋养层细胞抗原的DC表型为CD40midCD80lo wCD86lowMHC-Ⅱlow,在分泌大量IL-12的同时IL-10也明显升高,不能有效刺激T细胞增殖,并使T细胞分泌细胞因子呈现明显Th2偏倚.结论 负载滋养层细胞抗原后的DC表面共刺激分子及MHC-Ⅱ表达降低,刺激T细胞增殖能力下降;其自分泌和促使T细胞旁分泌的细胞因子呈现Th2偏倚,是一种耐受性DC.     

致敏树突状细胞活化细胞毒性T细胞抗肿瘤作用的研究

目的：研究树突状细胞（DCs）激活的细胞毒性T细胞的抗肿瘤及预防肿瘤发生的作用。 方法： 细胞因子诱生人PBMC未成熟DCs，加入肿瘤细胞抗原提取物致敏DCs产生成熟DCs；通过细胞形态、表面标记鉴定成熟DCs，MTT法测成熟DCs活化的细胞毒性T细胞(CTL)的体外杀伤活性；裸鼠体内注射活化CTL观察其抑制移植瘤生长及发生的作用。 结果： 经过7 d培养，获得大量形态典型、具有强烈刺激增殖能力、高表达CD80(63.5%)、CD83（67.6%）和CD3/ HLA-DR(83.2%)的DCs。其活化的CTL在20∶1效靶比时对抗原来源细胞株自身的杀伤率达75%以上，对同系细胞株的杀伤活性为35%-45%，对其它种系肿瘤细胞仅有微弱杀伤力（P<0.01）。CTL对裸鼠结肠癌HT-29移植瘤有特异性的生长抑制和预防生成作用（P<0.05）。CTL治疗组肿瘤组织中PCNA表达水平显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。 结论： 肿瘤细胞抗原活化的DC诱导CTL对肿瘤有特异性的杀伤作用，体内应用可特异性抑制移植结肠癌的生长或预防小鼠结肠癌移植瘤的发生。     

超抗原对NK细胞CD226分子表达与功能的调节

目的研究超抗原对NK细胞CD226分子表达与功能的调节。方法以超抗原金黄色葡萄球菌肠毒素A/B(SEA/B)活化PBMC为模型,应用双重免疫荧光染色和流式细胞术分析,观察CD226分子在NK细胞上的变化;采用51Cr释放实验,观察NK细胞在超抗原作用下杀伤功能的改变;利用激光共聚焦显微镜,观察CD226分子在NK细胞杀伤相的分布。结果在静止PBMC中,CD56 NK细胞的百分率为12.3%,CD56 CD226 细胞仅为1.4%。当效靶比为5∶1时,NK细胞对K562细胞的杀伤率为(3.2±0.2)%。当0.1mg/LSEA或SEB刺激PBMC1d后,CD56 NK细胞的百分率分别为13.5%和14.1%,CD226在NK细胞上的表达水平明显升高,且主要表达在CD56dim细胞上。在刺激第2天,SEA组CD56 CD226 占CD56 细胞69.1%,SEB组CD56 CD226 占CD56 细胞64.3%。刺激第3天,CD226在NK细胞上的表达水平均较第2天明显下降。在超抗原0.1mg/L作用3d中,SEA组和SEB组NK细胞杀伤率均明显高于同期未刺激组NK细胞的杀伤率及新鲜分离NK细胞的杀伤率(P<0.05),在作用的第2天,SEA组和SEB组杀伤率均达到峰值分别为(82.3±6.9)%和(80.6±7.5)%。激光共聚焦结果显示,CD226分子与LFA-1分子共定位于NK细胞与K562细胞的接触部位。结论超抗原SEA和SEB可提高NK细胞杀伤活性,可能与其促进CD226分子在NK细胞上的表达相关,CD226分子可能参与NK细胞免疫突触的形成。     

超抗原对NK细胞亚群凋亡诱导配体表达与功能的调节

目的 研究凋亡诱导配体分子在超抗原活化NK细胞CD56^bright出亚群和CD56^dim亚群上的表达规律和功能。方法以超抗原金黄色葡萄球菌肠毒素A/B（SEA/B）活化PBMC为模型,应用双重免疫荧光染色和流式细胞术分析,观察不同活化模型中凋亡诱导配体分子在NK细胞CD56^bright和CD56^dim亚群表达的变化;采用^51Cr释放实验及抗体阻断实验,观察NK细胞亚群的功能与凋亡诱导配体分子表达的关系;利用激光共聚焦显微镜,观察凋亡诱导配体分子在NK细胞杀伤相的分布。结果当超抗原浓度为0．1μg／mL时,TRAIL和TNF在NK细胞上的表达率及NK细胞杀伤活性于培养第2天时达到高峰,FasL在NK细胞上表达未见明显变化。TRAIL和TNF分子聚集于NK细胞与靶细胞的接触部位,FasL分布未见明显变化。结论超抗原SEA和SEB促进TRAIL和TNF在CD56^dim亚群表达,TRAIL和TNF可能参与NK细胞免疫突触的形成。     

CD4+ CD25+调节性T细胞对树突状细胞的杀伤作用

目的 探讨CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞是否对树突状细胞发挥免疫调节作用及其可能的机制。方法 用MACS（magnetic cell sorting）从BALB／c小鼠静息T细胞分离纯化CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞，体外细胞增殖实验观察其对CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞的免疫抑制作用；GM-CSF／IL-4培养自体小鼠骨髓来源DC，FACS（fluorescence-activated cell sorting）鉴定其表面分子特性；以CD3／CD28单克隆抗体活化CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞，FACS体外杀伤实验研究其对自体DC的调节作用，并观察穿孔素抑制剂EGTA对上述作用的影响。结果 用MACS法成功分离出CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞，纯度可达98％，特异性表达而Faxp3基因，能明显抑制CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞的体外增殖；骨髓来源的DC表达CDllc、MHCⅡ及少量协同刺激分子CD80、CD86；FACS体外杀伤实验证实以CD3／CD28抗体体外活化的CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞对自体DC有显著杀伤作用（P〈0．05），穿孔素抑制剂EGTA能部分抑制该杀伤效应（P〈0．05）。结论 CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞可通过杀伤作用对自体DC发挥免疫调节作用，穿孔素／颗粒酶杀伤途径可能参与其中。     

冻融抗原负载树突状细胞诱导细胞毒性T淋巴细胞特异性杀伤急性白血病细胞的实验研究

我们应用基因重组人白介素 4 (rhIL 4 ) ,基因重组人粒 /单细胞集落刺激因子 (rhGM CSF)联合培养体系自健康志愿者骨髓单个核细胞诱导产生DC ,使其负载急性髓系白血病 (AML)细胞冻融抗原 ,体外诱导细胞毒性T细胞 (CTL) ,观察负载AML细胞冻融抗原后DC的状态对所激发的T淋巴细胞表型及功能的影响及CTL对AML细胞特异性杀伤活性。我们发现负载AML冻融抗原后DC的CD1a、CD83、CD86、CD11C、HLA DR表达率为较培养前明显增高 (P <0 .0 1) ,且负载AML冻融抗原的DC诱导的CTL中CD3 CD8 T细胞比例 ,较诱导前明显增高 (P <0 .0 1) ,而负载AML细胞冻融抗原的DC诱导CTL对AML细胞有较强的杀伤作用 ,明显强于加或不加IL 2培养的T细胞对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ,而对K5 6 2细胞无明显的杀伤活性。通过以上实验我们认为经rhGM CSF ,rhIL 4培养产生的DC为CD14CD1a DC ,能诱导CTL对AML细胞产生明显的特异性杀伤作用 ,另外 ,负载AML细胞冻融抗原DC诱导的CTL中CD3 CD8 T细胞比例明显增高 ,提示CD8 T细胞在抗肿瘤免疫中具有极其重要的作用。     

卵巢癌细胞株冻融抗原负载的树突状细胞诱导CTL抗卵巢癌免疫应答的体外研究

目的研究卵巢癌冻融抗原负载的树突状细胞(dendriticcells,DC)诱导细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)体外杀伤卵巢癌细胞的细胞毒性效应。方法利用免疫磁珠分离法(MACS)分离纯化脐血CD34 细胞并在体外诱导分化为DC,用反复冻融法从卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3中提取的可溶性相关抗原负载DC。流式细胞学检测负载抗原后DC表面各种分化相关抗原的表达,ELISA法检测DC上清中IL12的表达,混合淋巴细胞反应(MLR)测定DC体外刺激T细胞增殖的能力,MTT法检测抗原负载DC激活的抗原特异性CTL对卵巢癌细胞的杀伤作用。结果与未经抗原负载的DC相比,经卵巢癌抗原负载的DC不仅能更高地表达各种DC分化相关抗原CD1α(73.35%±2.94%vs34.1%±2.35%)、CD83(73.9%±8.46%vs54.68%±3.26%)、CD80(91.95%±2.48%vs52.53%±3.18%)、HLADR(70.05%±2.35%vs48.7%±2.07%)以及CD54(88.9%±5.52%vs71.45%±2.29%),同时具有更强的刺激同种异体T淋巴细胞增殖和IL12分泌的能力(P均<0.05)。此外,卵巢癌细胞SKOV3冻融抗原负载DC激活的CTL在体外对SKOV3的杀伤率为77.35%,显著高于未经抗原负载的DC(P=0.0001)。结论经卵巢癌细胞冻融抗原负载DC激活的CTL在体外具有更强的增殖能力和杀伤卵巢癌细胞的作用。     

CD4+ T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity against staphylococcal enterotoxin B-pulsed synovial cells.

Apoptosis of synovial cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium determined in vivo is suggested to counteract the overgrowth of synovium. Immunohistological examination has revealed the infiltration of activated CD4+ T cells, which express Fas ligand (FasL), in RA synovium. The presence of a putative antigen (Ag) of autoimmune disorders in a target organ may induce the activation of specific T cells in the inflammatory region such as RA synovium. We examined the possible role of CD4+ T cells activated by synovial cells in a staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-dependent manner, inducing synovial cell apoptosis. Synovial cells were cultured with or without interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and further incubated with CD4+ T cells in the presence of SEB. After the cocultivation, both the cytotoxicity and FasL expression of CD4+ T cells were investigated. Constitutive Fas expression was detected on both unstimulated and IFN-gamma-stimulated synovial cells. CD4+ T cells did not kill SEB-pulsed unstimulated synovial cells efficiently. In contrast, when CD4+ T cells were incubated with IFN-gamma-stimulated synovial cells with SEB whose human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DR and -DQ expression was markedly induced, significant cytotoxicity by these cells against synovial cells was detected. The addition of anti-HLA-DR and -DQ monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) or human Fas chimeric protein (hFas-Fc) reduced this cytotoxicity. FasL expression of CD4+ T cells cocultured with IFN-gamma-stimulated synovial cells with SEB was significantly induced. Furthermore, the addition of mAbs against CD54, CD58 and CD106 inhibited both the cytotoxicity and FasL expression of CD4+ T cells induced by IFN-gamma-stimulated synovial cells in the presence of SEB, indicating the importance of costimulatory molecules on synovial cells in activating CD4+ T cells. Our results suggest that CD4+ T cells are activated by synovial cells by an SEB-dependent manner and express FasL, inducing Fas-mediated apoptosis of the latter cells. These phenomena may regulate the overgrowth of synovial cells in RA synovium.     

Evidence for B cell participation in the in vitro and in vivo maintenance of in vivo staphylococcal enterotoxin B-induced T cell anergy

The mechanisms involved in the maintenance of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-induced T cell anergy are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that CD4+ T cell anergy induced by SEB treatment is under partial B cell control. This effect is not mediated by anti-SEB antibodies or any in vitro B cell-produced suppresser factor. At day 13 after SEB immunization, T cells from B cell-deficient mice proliferate upon in vitro stimulation with SEB. These results suggest that SEB- induced T cell anergy is reversible and that B cells have an important function in anergy maintenance in CD4+ T cells, both in vivo and in vitro.      

Influence of major histocompatibility complex haplotype on the mitogenic response of T cells to staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

The abilities of antigen-presenting cells (APC) from nine independent major histocompatibility complex haplotypes and a number of intra-H-2 recombinant congenic strains of mice to present staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and induce proliferation in murine T-cell receptor V beta 8+ T-cell clones were compared. SEB presented by APC of all haplotypes tested induced significant responses in each of the T-cell clones. The magnitude of response was similar for most haplotypes, but there were limited quantitative differences between certain haplotypes. SEB presented by APC from H-2b mice as well as the intra-H-2 recombinant strains B10.GD and B10.A(4R), which do not express cell surface I-E (designated I-E-), induced the poorest T-cell responses. However, APC from AfE-, AsE-, and AqE- mice were as potent in SEB presentation as APC expressing both I-A and I-E. Antibodies against I-E were more effective than anti-I-A antibodies at inhibiting responses to SEB presented by APC expressing both I-A and I-E, whereas responses induced by APC expressing I-A but not I-E were blocked by antibodies against I-A. Thus, our results show that I-A can present SEB efficiently but that expression of both I-A and I-E on the same APC results in presentation of SEB predominantly by I-E. In addition, experiments using four distinct I-E- strains of mice indicate that I-A alleles differ in their ability to present SEB.     

Age-dependent changes in the response to staphylococcal enterotoxin B

In the present study we investigated the response of old miceto staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) immunization. Old micewere susceptible to lethal toxic shock, probably mediated bytumor necrosis factor-, although lethal toxic shock was notobserved in young mice. Old mice were able to produce more IL-2and IL-4 than young mice in response to in vivo immunizationwith SEB. V_ß8⁺CD4⁺ T cells of old mice expanded lessin vivo and were not deleted in response to SEB. However, inspite of the absence of clonal deletion, SEB was found to induceenergy of SEB reactive cells in old mice, as demonstrated byreduced in vitro T cell proliferation to SEB and reduced invitro IL-2 and IL-4 production.     

Induction of clonal anergy by oral administration of staphylococcal enterotoxin B

The staphylococcal enterotoxin is a major cause of food poisoning. The bacterial substance stimulates T cells expressing specific Vβ T cell receptors (TcR) and is termed “the superantigen”. We have previously demonstrated that intravenous injection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) induces functional unresponsiveness (anergy) of reactive T cells as well as a partial deletion by activationinduced programmed cell death. In the present study, we examined the effect of oral administration of SEB in mice. Our results indicate that spleen T cells from SEB-primed mice are hyporesponsive to SEB stimulation in vitro, but the response to SEA was normal. Vβ8⁺ T cells purified from SEB-primed mice did not respond to stimulation of TcR. This SEB-specific unresponsiveness could not be reversed by exogenous interleukin-2, but was partially reversed by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase during TcR-mediated stimulation was significantly inhibited in anergic T cells. Although the mechanisms of oral tolerance are not well understood, these results show that oral administration of SEB induce clonal anergy in peripheral T cells.     

Selective proliferation of natural killer cells among monocyte-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells as a result of stimulation with staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

In vitro stimulation of monocyte-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells with staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) resulted in selective proliferation of cells which express the phenotypic and functional characteristics of natural killer (NK) cells. This culture system provides an easy method for obtaining highly purified NK cells, by sequential incubation of monocyte-depleted cells with SEB and then with interleukin-2 (IL-2). After culture for 4 to 5 days in the presence of SEB, 98 to 100% of the cells expressed the CD16 (Leu11) and HNK-1 (Leu19) antigens. This purification occurred through the death of lymphocytes lacking NK cell markers and marked proliferation of NK cells themselves, which leads to an enrichment of the NK cell population. Activation of NK cells was detected by the appearance of the gamma interferon receptor and IL-2 receptor antigens. This homogeneous population showed the morphology of large granular lymphocytes, were potent effectors of cell-mediated cytotoxicity against K562 and Daudi tumor cell lines, and were able to kill gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. IL-2 was necessary to maintain the activation and proliferation after SEB stimulation for 4 days. Moreover, the maximum frequency of binding to K562 cells (60.6%) was similar to that recently found (58 +/- 3%) (P. Garcia-Pe?arrubia, F. T. Koster, and A. D. Bankhurst, J. Immunol. Methods 118:199-208, 1989) with fresh and highly purified NK cells. This method can be used as a source of highly purified NK cells to study their functional properties and applications to the treatment of cancer.     

Crosslinked staphylococcal enterotoxin B stimulates CD8+ T cells only in the presence of unlinked costimulator signals.

The superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) binds to class II MHC expressing cells and subsequently causes selective activation of T cells carrying appropriate T cell receptor (TCR) V beta chains. Apparently SEB acts as a bifunctional molecule by bridging class II MHC structures with the appropriate TCR-V beta chains. This assumption predicts that immobilized SEB ought to stimulate purified, class II MHC negative murine T cells. We show here that immobilized SEB lacks the ability to trigger murine CD8 T cells. Responsiveness obtained at a high T cell concentration is due to contaminating class II MHC-positive lymphocytes. Complementation of the culture system with syngeneic irradiated B cells blasts effectively restores responsiveness. The proliferating cells exhibit SEB specific cytotoxicity and a bias for V beta 8 expression. Since no evidence for leakiness of SEB covalently bound to sephadex beads was obtained, the data imply that immobilized SEB in fact binds to the TCR of T cells expressing the appropriate V beta chains. However, for primary activation additional costimulatory signals are required which can be provided in an unlinked fashion by activated B cells. Resting B cells are activated by immobilized SEB to cells expressing high costimulator activity. As such, the data point out a third function of SEB.     

Anti-Vbeta8 antibodies induce and maintain staphylococcal enterotoxin B-triggered Vbeta8+ T cell anergy

The mechanism involved in the maintenance of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-induced T cell anergy is poorly understood. We demonstrated earlier that B cells play an important role in the maintenance of SEB-induced T cell anergy in vivo and in vitro. Here, we demonstrate that B cells are not essential in SEB-induced T cell activation, but are important for the maintenance of T cell memory phenotype and anergy in vivo. Studying the activated B cell repertoire, we observe that SEB treatment increases serum anti-Vbeta8 antibody titer as detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using soluble Vbeta8 chains as antigens, and by staining of a Vbeta8-expressing thymoma. These antibodies disappear gradually after immunization with SEB, whereas the capacity of the T cells to respond to SEB in vitro is restored. Anti-Vbeta8 monoclonal antibody treatment causes Vbeta8+ T cell unresponsiveness to SEB in vitro (anergy), without affecting CD4Vbeta8+ T cell frequency. Together, these results suggest a new mechanism to explain the maintenance of SEB-induced T cell anergy, which is dependent on B cells and on anti-Vbeta8 antibody that specifically interacts with Vbeta8+ T cells.     

Specificity of rat T cell receptor V beta chain usage in proliferative responses to staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

The staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) are potent stimulators of T cell proliferative responses in humans and in mice. In these systems, the toxins function as superantigens and stimulate T cells bearing particular V beta. Although homology between the V beta of mice and humans is limited, related V beta families may respond to certain SE in a similar fashion. In this report, we have characterized the rat T cell response to staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). Rat T cells from several lymphoid organs proliferated strongly in response to both commercially available and recombinant SEB. Using a polymerase chain reaction assay, we identified the predominant V beta families stimulated by this enterotoxin. The T cell receptor V beta elements used by rat T cells were similar to but not completely identical with those used by mice. The V beta profile stimulated depended on the purity of the SEB preparation used.     

A co-stimulatory role for CD28 in the activation of CD4+ T lymphocytes by staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

In this study we investigated the differential effect of the co-stimulatory receptor ligand molecules CD2/LFA-3, LFA-1/ICAM-1, and CD28/B7 on microbial superantigen mediated activation of CD4+ T cells. Highly purified CD4+ T cells, depleted of antigen presenting cells (APCs), do not proliferate in response to the superantigen, staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). However, CD4+ T cells do respond to SEB in the presence of the LFA-3, ICAM-1, and B7 positive erythroleukemic cell line K562, murine L cells, human B7 transfected L cells or CD28 mAb. The K562 plus SEB induced response can be inhibited by combinations of mAbs to CD2 and LFA-1, and to LFA-3, ICAM-1, and B7. Addition of CD28 mAb to the CD2 and LFA-1 inhibited cultures could restore the response. Furthermore, soluble CD28 mAb alone is able to synergize with SEB to induce a proliferative CD4+ T cell response. CD4+ T cells depleted of APCs could also be activated by a pool of four mAbs directed to the V beta 5, V beta 6, V beta 8, and V beta 12 region of the TCR when a co-stimulatory signal was provided by the CD28 mAb, while the V beta mAbs alone or in combination are unable to activate CD4+ T cells in the absence of APCs. In contrast, addition of soluble mAbs to CD2 and LFA-1 molecules failed to co-stimulate SEB activated CD4+ T lymphocytes. The kinetics of the different modes of activation are distinct. SEB induced proliferation is most efficient in the presence of autologous APCs with maximal proliferation at a log4 lower SEB concentration than when CD28 mAbs were used. SEB plus K562 activation peaks on day 7, while SEB plus CD28 mAb induced proliferative responses do not peak until day 9. Thus, superantigen mediated activation of CD4+ T cells requires co-stimulatory signals, among which CD28 has distinct and unique effects.