title: Polyclonal B lymphocyte activation induced by mouse hepatitis virus A59 infection.
abstract: Mouse hepatitis viruses (MHV) diversely affect immune responses, depending on the viral strain and the mouse genetic background. Here, we studied the effect of MHV-A59 infection on B cell responses of 129/Sv and CBA mice. Our results indicate that in these strains, MHV-A59 induces spleen cell activation that leads to enlargement of the spleen without structural alteration. Infection triggers production by B lymphocytes of large amounts of immunoglobulin G2a, mostly without viral specificity. This polyclonal immunoglobulin production is dependent on the presence of functional T helper cells. This polyclonal B lymphocyte activation induced by MHV-A59 infection can have pathological implications, such as the enhancement of concomitant autoimmune reactions.
authors.affiliation: International Institute for Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lardans
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Godfraind
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: van der Logt
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Heessen
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Coutelier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G