Correlation of T cell independence of antibody responses with antigen dose reaching secondary lymphoid organs: implications for splenectomized patients and vaccine design.
Many natural viral and bacterial pathogens activate B cells independently of Th cells (TI Ags). This study analyzed the characteristics of the activation of B cells after immunization with various forms of viral Ags using different immunization routes and found a decreasing dependence on T help with increasing amounts of Ag recruited to the spleen. Repetitive antigenic structure facilitated TI B cell responses if Ag was present in lymphoid organs. These results suggest that 1) Ag dose and localization in secondary lymphoid organs are the key for B cell activation in the absence of T help; 2) early TI Ab responses are crucial to protect against systemically spreading acute cytopathic infectious agents; and 3) there may be new rationales for improved vaccine design.
Ochsenbein
A F
AF
Institute for Experimental Immunology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. adrian.ochsenbein@insel.ch
Pinschewer
D D
DD
Odermatt
B
B
Ciurea
A
A
Hengartner
H
H
Zinkernagel
R M
RM
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent / Q000502:physiology*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008819:Mice, Nude; D018353:Rhabdoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013156:Splenectomy; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines