superantigenn.
/ˌsuːpərˈantᵻdʒ(ə)n/, /ˌsjuːpərˈantᵻdʒ(ə)n/, U.S. /ˌsupərˈæn(t)ədʒ(ə)n/, /ˌsupərˈæn(t)əˌdʒɛn/ Immunology.
1. An antigen complexed with RNA during processing by a macrophage (considered as a strong stimulus of an immune response). Now disused.
ΚΠ
1966 J. D. Ebert & M. E. Kaighn in M. Locke Major Probl. Developm. Biol. 63 Evidence is accumulating for the initial processing of antigen in macrophages but the nature of the stimulus transferred, whether it be a ‘superantigen’, i.e., a modified antigen (one coupled with RNA), or information embodied in RNA is unclear.
1974 Cellular Immunol. 11 131 Peritoneal macrophages can bind partly degraded antigen to ribonucleic acid (RNA) to yield a metabolically stable product which has been considered to be a ‘super-antigen’ by some.
2. Any of a class of foreign (exogenous) or self (endogenous) antigens causing excessive activation of T lymphocytes.Superantigens are produced especially by bacteria, including staphylococci and streptococci, and can be responsible for eliciting a massive release of cytokines, associated with illnesses such as toxic shock syndrome and septic shock.
ΚΠ
1989 J. White et al. in Cell 56 27/1 Because of this peculiarly strong and specific reactivity, we propose calling these self-antigens ‘superantigens’.
1997 New Scientist 9 Aug. 6/2 Superantigens have already been linked to the devastating immune response in type-1 diabetes patients.
2008 Capital (Annapolis, Maryland) (Nexis) 1 June e4 Superantigens are like skeleton keys, unlocking all of the gates that normally regulate immune responses to infection and disease.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1966