Coordinate suppression of superantigen-induced cytokine production and T-cell proliferation by a small nonpeptidic inhibitor of class II major histocompatibility complex and CD4 interaction.

Proinflammatory cytokines mediate the toxic effect of superantigenic staphylococcal exotoxins (SE). TJU103, a small nonpeptidic molecule that blocks the interaction between major histocompatibility complex class II and CD4 molecules inhibited SE-stimulated T-cell proliferation (by 92%) and production of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1beta, interleukin 6, and gamma interferon (by 66, 56, 76, and 72%, respectively) by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These data suggest that TJU103 may be useful for mitigating the pathogenic effects of SE.