Role of B cells in maintaining helper T-cell memory.
The cellular interactions involved in maintaining CD4+ T-cell memory have hitherto not been identified. In this report, we have investigated the role played by B cells in this process. We show that that long-lasting helper T-cell memory depends on the presence of B cells, but that direct antigen presentation by B cells is not required. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms which underlie helper T-cell memory. They also suggest that the efficacy of future vaccines will depend critically on the inclusion of B- as well as T-cell epitopes.
van Essen
D
D
Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, UK.
Dullforce
P
P
Gray
D
D
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D064532:Histocompatibility Antigen H-2D; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016513:Mice, SCID; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D006183:H-2 Antigens; C032876:H-2Kb protein, mouse; D064532:Histocompatibility Antigen H-2D; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin