title: The role of B cells in immunity against larval Strongyloides stercoralis in mice.
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the role of B cells in primary and challenge infections of larval Strongyloides stercoralis in mice. Two strains of B-cell deficient mice were used in these studies, microMT mice that lack all B cells and Xid mice that lack B-1 cells. Primary immune responses in microMT mice were sufficient to eliminate all parasites within 1 week after infection. Immunized microMT and Xid mice, however, were unable to kill challenge parasites at 24 h post infection, the time that they were eliminated in immunized wild-type mice. This was despite having a significant increase in interleukin-5 secreting cells and high numbers of eosinophils in the microenvironment of the challenge larvae. In addition, immunized Xid mice did not generate parasite-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)M but did develop a weak IgG response compared to wild-type mice. These results demonstrate a dichotomy in the requirement of B cells in immunity to S. stercoralis. B cells are not required in the primary response, yet they are required in the secondary immune response. B-1 cells are required for the secondary immune response and their role appears to be the production of IgM and not as a source of immunoregulatory molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
authors.forename: De'broski R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: Gerhard A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Schad
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000032:analysis; D007814:Larva / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D015848:Interleukin-5; D007371:Interferon-gamma