Preferred Label : Superantigen;
NCIt definition : An antigen produced by bacteria or viruses that cause non-specific activation of T-lymphocytes.
Superantigens form crosslinks between either two major histocompatibility class (MHC)
II molecules, which increases both cytokine expression and costimulatory receptor
expression in antigen presenting cells, or one MHC class II molecule and the variable
region of the T-cell receptor beta chain, which results in increased proliferation
of and cytokine expression by T-lymphocytes. This non-specific release of cytokines
and upregulation of immune cell activation can lead to rashes, fever, vomiting, anergy,
and damage to tissues and organs. These symptoms can progress to autoimmunity, multi-organ
failure, coma and death.;
Origin ID : C1456;
UMLS CUI : C0206527;
Currated CISMeF NLP mapping
- Semantic type(s)
- UMLS correspondences (same concept)
