Gene expression changes in CD4 + Vbeta8+ T cells energized by in vivo exposure 
to staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) bacterial superantigen compared to CD4 + 
Vbeta8+ non-energic T cells were assessed using DNA microarrays containing 5184 
murine complementary DNAs. Anergy in splenic T cells of SEB-immunized BALB/c 
mice was verified by dramatically reduced proliferative capacity and an 8 x 
overexpression of GRAIL mRNA in CD4 + Vbeta8+ T cells taken from mice 7 days 
after injection. At an Associative t-test threshold of P<0.0005, 96 genes were 
overexpressed or detected only in anergic T cells, while 256 genes were 
suppressed or not detected in anergic T cells. Six of eight differential 
expressions tested using real-time quantitative PCR were validated. Message for 
B-Raf was detected only in non-anergic cells, while expression of the TCR 
signaling modulator Slap (Src-like adapter protein) and the TCR zeta-chain 
specific phosphatase Ptpn3 was enhanced. Modulation of multiple genes suggests 
downregulation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling and enhanced Notch signaling in the 
anergic cells. Consistent with previous reports in a non-superantigen in vivo 
anergy model, mRNA for CD18 and the transcription factor Satb1 (special 
AT-rich-binding protein 1) was increased in SEB-energized T cells. This is the 
first report of global transcriptional changes in CD4+ T cells made anergic by 
superantigen exposure.