In vivo activation of murine peritoneal B1 cells by the filarial nematode phosphorylcholine-containing glycoprotein ES-62

Mice were subcutaneously implanted with osmotic pumps loaded with ES-62, an immunomodulatory phosphorylcholine (PC)-containing glycoprotein secreted by filarial nematodes. The concentration of ES-62 was set to give a serum level within the range found for PC-containing molecules during natural filarial nematode infection of humans. Peritoneal B1 cells were recovered from the mice and the effect of exposure to ES-62 on a number of parameters determined ex vivo. B1 cells exposed to ES-62 showed an increase in spontaneous proliferation that was enhanced by ex vivo exposure to F(ab')(2) fragments of anti-IgM antibodies (anti-IgM), to activate via the antigen receptor, or LPS. Consistent with this, cell-cycle analysis indicated that cells pre-exposed to ES-62 showed increased cell-cycle progression following stimulation with anti-IgM. Pre-exposed cells also showed an increase in both spontaneous and anti-IgM induced IL-10 secretion. Taken together, these data indicate that ES-62 activates murine B1 cells in vivo. Conversely, we have previously shown conventional (B2) B cells to be rendered hypo-responsive by in vivo exposure to ES-62 and the different effect on the two cell types is discussed in relation to the nature of the antibody response arising during filarial nematode infection.