questions about superantigen/apoptosis studies

Meenakshi Roy (meena@macsun.stanford.edu)
Wed, 13 Nov 1996 14:12:38 -0800 (PST)

Hi,
This is not a directly flow related question, but I am hoping someone can
help me. I am immunising mice with superantigen (staphylococal enterotoxin
B), and looking for apoptosis of T cell populations in vivo. Recently, I
have been having problems with a prep of SEB from Sigma.
Based on literature, I expect to see an increase in Vbeta 8 expressing
populations of CD4 T cells in the spleen, on immunisation with SEB. I have
tried injecting C57BL/6 mice i.p. with 5 ucg, 10 ucg, 20 ucg, and 30 ucg
SEB and following the VBeta 8/CD4 populations over days 1,2 and 3. I dont
see an increase in the VB8 /CD4 populations (in comparison to controls) at
either timepoints. I do see a decrease in percentage at day 1 after
immunisation.
The CD4 -ve /V Beta 8 population (presumably CD8's)-do seem to
increase-but only after 3 days at 30 ucg/mouse.
Does anyone have any experience/ideas ? Should I get SEB from Toxin
Technologies instead? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!!

Meenakshi Roy, Ph.D.
Stanford University