Type i interferons potently enhance humoral immunity and can promote isotype switching by stimulating dendritic cells in vivo.
Type I interferons (IFN-I) are rapidly induced following infection and play a key role in nonspecific inhibition of virus replication. Here we have investigated the effects of IFN-I on the generation of antigen-specific antibody responses. The data show that IFN-I potently enhance the primary antibody response to a soluble protein, stimulating the production of all subclasses of IgG, and induce long-lived antibody production and immunological memory. In addition, endogenous production of IFN-I was shown to be essential for the adjuvant activity of CFA. Finally, IFN-I enhanced the antibody response and induced isotype switching when dendritic cells were the only cell type responding to IFN-I. The data reveal the potent adjuvant activity of IFN-I and their important role in linking innate and adaptive immunity.
Le Bon
A
A
The Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 7NN, England.
Schiavoni
G
G
D'Agostino
G
G
Gresser
I
I
Belardelli
F
F
Tough
D F
DF
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching / Q000187:drug effects*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007370:Interferon Type I; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D011070:Poly I-C