Superantigens and Chronic Rhinosinusitis: Skewing of T-Cell Receptor Vβ-Distributions in Polyp-Derived CD4 ⁺ and CD8 ⁺ T Cells

Abstract excerpt

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that Staphylococcus aureus secrete superantigenic toxins that play a role in the etiology of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). Twenty S. aureus superantigens (SAg's) have been identified, each of which bind the V beta-region of the T-cell receptor (TCR) outside the peptide-binding site. Approximately 50 distinct V beta-domains exist in the human...