Süperantijen

Süperantijen is a term used in Turkish to describe a super-antigen. Superantigens are a class of antigens that can activate a very large proportion of T cells, irrespective of their antigen specificity. Unlike conventional antigens, which are processed by antigen-presenting cells and presented to T cells in the context of MHC molecules, superantigens bind to the outer surface of MHC class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells and simultaneously to the variable region of the T cell receptor beta chain. This cross-linking bypasses the normal antigen recognition process and leads to massive T cell activation. This can result in a cytokine storm, characterized by the release of large amounts of inflammatory cytokines. This can lead to symptoms such as fever, rash, and in severe cases, toxic shock syndrome. Many bacterial and viral pathogens produce superantigens, contributing to their virulence. Examples include staphylococcal enterotoxins and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1. Research into superantigens is important for understanding immune responses and developing therapies for autoimmune diseases and infectious conditions.