Systemic antibodies can inhibit mouse mammary tumor virus-driven superantigen response in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues.
Many mucosal pathogens invade the host by initially infecting the organized mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (o-MALT) such as Peyer's patches or nasal cavity-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) before spreading systemically. There is no clear demonstration that serum antibodies can prevent infections in o-MALT. We have tested this possibility by using the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) as a model system. In peripheral lymph nodes or in Peyer's patches or NALT, MMTV initially infects B lymphocytes, which as a consequence express a superantigen (SAg) activity. The SAg molecule induces the local activation of a subset of T cells within 6 days after MMTV infection. We report that similar levels of anti-SAg antibody (immunoglobulin G) in serum were potent inhibitors of the SAg-induced T-cell response both in peripheral lymph nodes and in Peyer's patches or NALT. This result clearly demonstrates that systemic antibodies can gain access to Peyer's patches or NALT.
Velin
D
D
Swiss Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland.
Fotopoulos
G
G
Kraehenbuhl
J P
JP
Acha-Orbea
H
H
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology; D008324:Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018089:Superantigens