Specific cytotoxic T cells eliminate B cells producing virus-neutralizing antibodies [corrected].
In medically important infections with cytopathic viruses, neutralizing antibodies are generated within 6-14 days. In contrast, such protective antibodies appear late (50-150 days) after infection with immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in humans, or lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in mice. However, during these infections, non-neutralizing antibodies appear much earlier. It has been proposed that T cells suppress antibody responses generally and against viruses in vitro. Here we show that the suppression of neutralizing-antibody-producing B cells by this non-cytopathic virus, and their subsequent destruction by virus-specific cytotoxic T cells. Such specific B-cell elimination that leads to a delay in neutralizing-antibody production could help to establish persistent virus infections by non-cytopathic viruses.
Planz
O
O
Institute for Experimental Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Seiler
P
P
Hengartner
H
H
Zinkernagel
R M
RM
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016923:Cell Death; D006825:Hybridomas; D007700:Kinetics; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral