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Activation of Virus-specific Memory B Cells in the Absence of T Cell Help
- Source :
- The Journal of Experimental Medicine
- Publication Year :
- 2004
- Publisher :
- Rockefeller University Press, 2004.
-
Abstract
- Humoral immunity is maintained by long-lived plasma cells, constitutively secreting antibodies, and nonsecreting resting memory B cells that are rapidly reactivated upon antigen encounter. The activation requirements for resting memory B cells, particularly the role of T helper cells, are unclear. To analyze the activation of memory B cells, mice were immunized with human cytomegalovirus, a complex human herpesvirus, and tick-born encephalitis virus, and a simple flavivirus. B cell populations devoid of Ig-secreting plasma cells were adoptively transferred into T and B cell–deficient RAG-1−/− mice. Antigenic stimulation 4–6 d after transfer of B cells resulted in rapid IgG production. The response was long lasting and strictly antigen specific, excluding polyclonal B cell activation. CD4+ T cells were not involved since (a) further depletion of CD4+ T cells in the recipient mice did not alter the antibody response and (b) recipient mice contained no detectable CD4+ T cells 90 d posttransfer. Memory B cells could not be activated by a soluble viral protein without T cell help. Transfer of memory B cells into immunocompetent animals indicated that presence of helper T cells did not enhance the memory B cell response. Therefore, our results indicate that activation of virus-specific memory B cells to secrete IgG is independent of cognate or bystander T cell help.
- Subjects :
- adoptive transfer
T cell
Immunology
B-cell receptor
Naive B cell
Cytomegalovirus
Lymphocyte Activation
Lymphocyte Depletion
Article
immunological memory
Mice
medicine
Animals
Humans
Immunology and Allergy
Cytotoxic T cell
B lymphocyte memory
Antigen-presenting cell
B cell
Homeodomain Proteins
Mice, Knockout
B-Lymphocytes
CD40
antigen-specific immunity
biology
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer
Molecular biology
B-1 cell
Disease Models, Animal
medicine.anatomical_structure
Antibody Formation
Cytomegalovirus Infections
biology.protein
Immunologic Memory
Gene Deletion
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15409538 and 00221007
- Volume :
- 199
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Experimental Medicine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....bf890e3d289b37dc9bd879aaaca6b561