title: Antigen dependent and independent mechanisms that sustain serum antibody levels.
abstract: In this article, we review three mechanisms that contribute to sustaining serum antibody levels: (i) long-lived plasma cells; (ii) persisting or cross-reactive antigen, and (iii) polyclonal activation of all memory B cells. We also present a quantitative analysis of the secondary immune response that reveals the relative contribution of antigen induced short- and long-lived plasma cells versus polyclonal activation of all memory B cells. Antigenic boost sustains high levels of serum antibodies only for a few months, while polyclonal activation sustains low levels of protective antibodies for a human lifetime.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Traggiai
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puzone
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzavecchia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D000941:Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens