Protective antibodies in murine Lyme disease arise independently of CD40 ligand.
Borrelia burgdorferi-infected mice develop acute arthritis that undergoes Ab-mediated resolution. To further investigate the role of B. burgdorferi-specific Abs in Lyme borreliosis, CD40 ligand-deficient (CD40L-deficient) mice were infected with B. burgdorferi. The development and regression of arthritis were similar in CD40L-deficient and control mice. Although CD40L-deficient mice have defects in Ig class switching, infected CD40L-deficient mice developed B. burgdorferi-specific IgG2b Abs. Moreover, the transfer of serum from B. burgdorferi-infected CD40L-deficient animals prevented infection in severe combined immunodeficient mice. These data show that B. burgdorferi-infected CD40L-deficient mice are capable of producing Abs that are protective, despite the inability of these mice to mediate T-dependent immune responses.
Fikrig
E
E
Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Barthold
S W
SW
Chen
M
M
Grewal
I S
IS
Craft
J
J
Flavell
R A
RA
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology*; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008024:Ligands; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D016513:Mice, SCID
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D023201:CD40 Ligand