ACTIVATION OF MUCOSAL V-BETA-3+ T-CELLS AND TISSUE-DAMAGE IN HUMAN SMALL-INTESTINE BY THE BACTERIAL SUPERANTIGEN, STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS ENTEROTOXIN-B

Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) was added to explants of fetal human intestine in organ culture or administered into the lumen of fetal small intestine prior to culture. Both routes produced a massive increase in lamina propria T cells expressing Vbeta3, and to a lesser extent, those expressing Vbeta5 and Vbeta12. SEB-activated lamina propria T cells produced interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma and T cell activation was accompanied by tissue damage, which was inhibited by FK506.