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Development of T-B cell collaboration in neonatal mice.
- Source :
- International Immunology; Mar1999, Vol. 11 Issue 3, p445-451, 7p
- Publication Year :
- 1999
-
Abstract
- The neonatal immune response is impaired during the first weeks after birth. To obtain a better understanding of this immaturity, we investigated the development of T cell interactions with B cells in mice. For this purpose, we analyzed the immune response to three T-dependent antigens in vivo: (i) the polyclonal antibody response induced by vaccinia virus; (ii) the production of polyclonal and specific antibodies following immunization with hapten-carrier conjugates; (iii) the mouse mammary tumor virus superantigen (sAg) response involving an increase in sAg-reactive T cells and induction of polyclonal antibody production. After vaccinia virus injection into neonates, the polyclonal antibody response was similar to that observed in adult mice. The antibody response to hapten-carrier conjugates, however, was delayed and reduced. Injection with sAg-expressing B cells from neonatal or adult mice allowed us to determine whether B cells, T cells or both were implicated in the reduced immune response. In these sAg responses, neonatal T cells were stimulated by both neonatal and adult sAg-presenting B cells but only B cells from adult mice differentiated into IgM- and IgG-secreting plasma cells in the neonatal environment in vivo. Injecting neonatal B cells into adult mice did not induce antibody production. These results demonstrate that the environment of the neonatal lymph node is able to support a T and B cell response, and that immaturity of B cells plays a key role in the reduced immune responses observed in the neonate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09538178
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- International Immunology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 44607141
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/intimm/11.3.445