T-independent type II immune responses generate memory B cells.
Unlike T-dependent immune responses against protein antigens, T-independent responses against polysaccharides confer long-lasting humoral immunity in the absence of recall responses and are not known to generate memory B cells. Here we report that polysaccharide antigens elicit memory B cells that are phenotypically distinct from those elicited by protein antigens. Furthermore, memory B cell responses against polysaccharides are regulated by antigen-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies. As the generation and regulation of immunologic memory is central to vaccination, our findings help explain the mode of action of the few existing polysaccharide vaccines and provide a rationale for a wider application of polysaccharide-based strategies in vaccination.
Obukhanych
Tetyana V
TV
Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and 2Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Nussenzweig
Michel C
MC
D000818:Animals; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent / Q000502:physiology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000502:physiology; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics
D000955:Antigens, T-Independent; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell