title: CXCR5-dependent seeding of follicular niches by B and Th cells augments antiviral B cell responses.
abstract: The chemokine receptor CXCR5 and its ligand CXCL13 define the structure of B cell follicles within secondary lymphoid organs. Here, we examined the impact of CXCR5 on antiviral B cell responses in vivo. CXCR5-/- mice showed a normal production of IgM and IgG acutely after infection with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and developed VSV-specific germinal centers. However, impaired Ig class switch and Ab production were observed under conditions of limited availability of Ag (i.e., after immunization with nonreplicating viral particles or soluble Ag). Adoptive transfer of CXCR5-deficient, VSV-specific B and Th cells demonstrated that CXCR5 expression on both B and Th cells is required for an efficient Ig class switch. These experiments revealed that CXCR5 is critical for the coordinated interaction of antiviral T and B cells through its impact on initial B cell expansion and the recruitment of Ag-specific B and Th cells to germinal centers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Immunology, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Junt
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Förster
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Senn
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lipp
authors.forename: Masamichi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
authors.forename: Rolf M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Zinkernagel
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ludewig
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hengartner
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology*; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000172:deficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: C513179:CXCR5 protein, mouse; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine