Development of T-B cell collaboration in neonatal mice.
The neonatal immune response is impaired during the first weeks after birth. To obtain a better understanding of this immaturity, we investigated the development of T cell interactions with B cells in mice. For this purpose, we analyzed the immune response to three T-dependent antigens in vivo: (i) the polyclonal antibody response induced by vaccinia virus; (ii) the production of polyclonal and specific antibodies following immunization with hapten-carrier conjugates; (iii) the mouse mammary tumor virus superantigen (sAg) response involving an increase in sAg-reactive T cells and induction of polyclonal antibody production. After vaccinia virus injection into neonates, the polyclonal antibody response was similar to that observed in adult mice. The antibody response to hapten-carrier conjugates, however, was delayed and reduced. Injection with sAg-expressing B cells from neonatal or adult mice allowed us to determine whether B cells, T cells or both were implicated in the reduced immune response. In these sAg responses, neonatal T cells were stimulated by both neonatal and adult sAg-presenting B cells but only B cells from adult mice differentiated into IgM- and IgG-secreting plasma cells in the neonatal environment in vivo. Injecting neonatal B cells into adult mice did not induce antibody production. These results demonstrate that the environment of the neonatal lymph node is able to support a T and B cell response, and that immaturity of B cells plays a key role in the reduced immune response observed in the neonate.
Astori
M
M
Institute for Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
Finke
D
D
Karapetian
O
O
Acha-Orbea
H
H
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D002450:Cell Communication; D006241:Haptens / Q000276:immunology; D007107:Immune System / Q000254:growth & development*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008208:Lymphatic System; D008324:Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006241:Haptens