Cutting edge: enhancement of antibody responses through direct stimulation of B and T cells by type I IFN.
Type I IFN (IFN-alphabeta) is induced rapidly by infection and plays a key role in innate antiviral defense. IFN-alphabeta also exerts stimulatory effects on the adaptive immune system and has been shown to enhance Ab and T cell responses. We have investigated the importance of B and T cells as direct targets of IFN-alphabeta during IFN-alpha-mediated augmentation of the Ab response against a soluble protein Ag. Strikingly, the ability of IFN-alpha to stimulate the Ab response and induce isotype switching was markedly reduced in mice in which B cells were selectively deficient for the IFN-alphabetaR. Moreover, IFN-alpha-mediated enhancement of the Ab response was also greatly impaired in mice in which T cells were selectively IFN-alphabetaR-deficient. These results indicate that IFN-alphabetaR signaling in both B and T cells plays an important role in the stimulation of Ab responses by IFN-alphabeta.
Le Bon
Agnes
A
The Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire, UK.
Thompson
Clare
C
Kamphuis
Elisabeth
E
Durand
Vanessa
V
Rossmann
Cornelia
C
Kalinke
Ulrich
U
Tough
David F
DF
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D007370:Interferon Type I; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta