Michelin, A. F. [UNESP]Carlos, Iracilda Zeppone [UNESP]2014-05-272014-05-272004-10-14Revista de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, v. 24, n. 2, p. 83-95, 2004.0101-3793http://hdl.handle.net/11449/67909Staphylococcal enterotoxins are among the most common etiologic agents that cause food poisoning and, possibly, nonmenstrual toxic shock syndrome. These enterotoxins are also called superantigens because they are potent T cell and macrophages activators. The superantigens bind directly to the major histocompatibility complex class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells and stimulate T cells expressing specific Vβ elements in the cell receptors. Excessive production of cytokines by these cells and macrophages are responsible for the pathogenesis of food poisoning. These cytokine include tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-1, proinflamatory mediators with potent immunoenhancing effects; the nitric oxide (NO). It still has both effects citotoxic and regulatory roles in immune function.83-95porInterferon-γNitric oxideStaphylococcal enterotoxinsSuperantigensTumor necrosis factor-αenterotoxingamma interferoninterleukin 1major histocompatibility antigen class 2nitric oxideStaphylococcus enterotoxinsuperantigentumor necrosis factor alphaantigen presenting cellcytokine productionfood poisoningimmune systemimmunomodulationimmunoregulationmacrophage activationpathogenesisreviewseptic shockStaphylococcusT lymphocyteResenhaAcesso restrito2-s2.0-47443763131730146818754269