Soluble CD40 ligand can replace the normal T cell-derived CD40 ligand signal to B cells in T cell-dependent activation.
We have constructed a soluble chimeric fusion protein between the mouse CD8 alpha chain and the mouse CD40 T cell ligand. This protein binds to both human and mouse B cells. By itself it induced a modest degree of B cell proliferation, but together with anti-immunoglobulin (anti-Ig) antibody it greatly stimulated B cell proliferation, as determined by both [3H]thymidine uptake and increase in cell numbers. These data are evidence that the CD40 ligand on T cells provides a signal that drives B cell proliferation. This signal is synergistic with that delivered by anti-Ig antibody.
Lane
P
P
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
Brocker
T
T
Hubele
S
S
Padovan
E
E
Lanzavecchia
A
A
McConnell
F
F
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012995:Solubility; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D004247:DNA