Natural killer T cells are required for the development of a superantigen-driven T helper type 2 immune response in mice.
We show, here, that one single injection or weekly injections of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), starting in 1-day-old newborn mice, induced a powerful immune response with a T helper type 2 (Th2) pattern, as judged by the isotype and cytokine profile, with the production of large amounts of SEB-specific immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1), detectable levels of SEB-specific IgE and increased production of interleukin-4 by spleen cells. These protocols also induced an increase in the levels of total IgE in the serum. Memory of SEB was transferred to secondary recipients by using total spleen cells from primed animals. The secondary humoral response in transferred mice was diminished if spleen cells from SEB-treated mice were previously depleted of CD3+ or Vbeta8+ T cells or NK1.1+ cells. In vivo depletion of NK1.1+ cells in adult mice resulted in a marked reduction in the SEB-specific antibody response in both the primary and secondary immune responses. Additionally, purified NK1.1+ T cells were able to perform SEB-specific helper B-cell actions in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that NK1.1+ T cells are required for the full development of humoral immunological memory, whilst making neonatal tolerance to SEB unachievable.
Nomizo
Auro
A
Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Postol
Edilberto
E
de Alencar
Raquel
R
Cardillo
Fabíola
F
Mengel
José
J
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000941:Antigens; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D004768:Enterotoxins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C527211:Klrb1c protein, mouse; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011506:Proteins; D018089:Superantigens; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal