Pathogenic Role of a Superantigen in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infection

Conclusion

Among the various systemic manifestations in Y. pseudotuberculosis infection, renal complication such as acute renal failure, and an erythematous skin rash were more strongly related to the elevation of anti-YPM titer. Acute renal failure might be caused by the T cells that was stimulated and matured under the Th1 type inflammatory cytokine milieu produced by YPM during the acute phase of the disease. Patients with erythematous skin rash had an elevated level of serum IL-12p40 during the acute phase. The in vitro experiments indicated that YPM could contribute to the pathogenesis of skin rash through the enhanced production of IL-12 and the expansion of the skin-homing receptor CLA+ T cells in patients.