Human immunoglobulin M memory B cells controlling Streptococcus pneumoniae infections are generated in the spleen.
Splenectomized and asplenic patients have a high incidence of infections by encapsulated bacteria and do not respond to polysaccharide vaccines. To understand whether the absence of the spleen is associated with a defined B cell defect, we analyzed B cell subsets in the peripheral blood. We found that a population of B cells known as immunoglobulin (Ig)M memory is lacking in patients without spleen. The absence of IgM memory B cells correlates with an impaired immune response to encapsulated bacteria not only in splenectomized patients, but also in individuals with an intact spleen. We show that the physiological and transient predisposition to pneumococcal infections of young children (0-2 yr) is associated with the lack of circulating IgM memory B cells and of serum antipolysaccharide IgM. We also demonstrate that IgM memory B cells are undetectable in a fraction of patients with common variable immunodeficiency, who have recurrent and invasive infections by encapsulated bacteria. IgM memory B cells, therefore, require the spleen for their generation and/or survival and are responsible for the protection against encapsulated bacteria.
Kruetzmann
Stephanie
S
Max-Plank Institute for Immunology, Department of Developmental Immunology, D-79108 Freiburg, Germany.
Rosado
M Manuela
MM
Weber
Holger
H
Germing
Ulrich
U
Tournilhac
Olivier
O
Peter
Hans-Hartmut
HH
Berner
Reinhard
R
Peters
Anke
A
Boehm
Thomas
T
Plebani
Alessandro
A
Quinti
Isabella
I
Carsetti
Rita
R
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018956:CD5 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D017074:Common Variable Immunodeficiency / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000032:analysis
D018956:CD5 Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7