Final answer:
TSST-1 causes septic shock by causing an uncontrolled hypersecretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which leads to a cytokine storm and excessive inflammatory response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The superantigen TSST-1 contributes to septic shock by hypersecretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This occurs when TSST-1, a type of exotoxin produced by certain strains of Staphylococcus aureus, binds nonspecifically to both MHC II molecules on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and the variable region of the T-cell receptor (TCR) ß chain. This binding activates a large number of T cells regardless of antigen specificity, leading to an excessive and uncontrolled release of cytokines, also known as a cytokine storm. This storm triggers a powerful inflammatory response, causing symptoms like high fever, low blood pressure, and potentially leading to multi-organ failure and death, which are characteristic of septic shock.