Nasal-associated lymphoid tissue is a site of long-term virus-specific antibody production following respiratory virus infection of mice.
Nasal immunoglobulin A provides an initial defense against inhaled respiratory pathogens. However, it is not known whether the nasal-associated lymphoid tissues (NALT) are able to mount an effective long-lasting pathogen-specific immune response, nor is it known whether functional differences exist between the organized NALT (O-NALT) and the diffuse NALT lining the nasal passages (D-NALT). Here we show that although both the O-NALT and the D-NALT are capable of producing virus-specific antibody in response to influenza virus infection, the frequency of specific antibody-forming cells in the D-NALT is much greater than the frequency observed in the O-NALT. Furthermore, we show that the D-NALT but not the O-NALT is the site of long-term virus-specific humoral immunity which lasts for the life of the animal. These results indicate that the D-NALT is not only the major effector site of the NALT but also the site of local long-term specific antibody production.
Liang
B
B
The Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom.
Hyland
L
L
Hou
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000821:virology*; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000821:virology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens