title: A model for induction of T cell-independent humoral immunity in response to polysaccharide antigens.
abstract: We provide a model for induction of T cell-independent, polysaccharide-specific Ig secretion in response to bacterial challenge. Two predominant pathways are defined that require the concerted action of multivalent membrane Ig cross-linking by the polysaccharide Ag with 1) various B cell-activating moieties contained within the bacterial pathogen and/or 2) cytokines, such as IFN-gamma and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor produced by NK cells and macrophages, that become activated in a T cell-independent manner during bacterial infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Snapper
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mond
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent / Q000276:immunology*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial