Final answer:
Superantigens can cause excessive T cell activation and release of cytokines, leading to dangerous inflammatory responses and life-threatening fevers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Superantigens are bacterial or viral proteins that can cause an excessive activation of T cells and an unregulated release of cytokines, resulting in an excessive inflammatory response. Superantigens can cause excessive T cell activation and release of cytokines, leading to dangerous inflammatory responses and life-threatening fevers.
This can lead to dangerous conditions such as toxic shock syndrome and scarlet fever, which are associated with high, life-threatening fevers. Superantigens activate T cells by binding to MHC II molecules and the variable region of the TCR ß chain, causing a release of cytokines known as a cytokine storm.