title: Induction of alloantigen-specific tolerance by B cells from CD40-deficient mice.
abstract: Interaction between CD40 on B cells and CD40 ligand molecules on T cells is pivotal for the generation of a thymus-dependent antibody response. Here we show that B cells deficient in CD40 expression are unable to elicit the proliferation of allogeneic T cells in vitro. More importantly, mice immunized with CD40-/- B cells become tolerant to allogeneic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens as measured by a mixed lymphocyte reaction and cytotoxic T-cell assay. The failure of CD40-/- B cells to serve as antigen presenting cells in vitro was corrected by the addition of anti-CD28 mAb. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide stimulation, which upregulates B7 expression, reversed the inability of CD40-/- B cells to stimulate an alloresponse in vitro and abrogated the capacity of these B cells to induce tolerance in vivo. These results suggest that CD40 engagement by CD40 ligand expressed on antigen-activated T cells is critical for the upregulation of B7 molecules on antigen-presenting B cells that subsequently deliver the costimulatory signals necessary for T-cell proliferation and differentiation. Our experiments suggest a novel strategy for the induction of antigen-specific tolerance in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Havard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Holländer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castigli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kulbacki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Burakoff
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Ramos
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Geha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D019013:CD40 Antigens; C497965:Cd86 protein, mouse; D007519:Isoantigens; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D023201:CD40 Ligand