Natural IgE production in the absence of MHC Class II cognate help.
IgE induction by parasites and allergens is antigen driven and cognate T cell help dependent. We demonstrate that spontaneously produced IgE in T cell-deficient and germ-free wild-type (wt) mice is composed of natural specificities and induced by a mechanism independent of MHC class II (MHC II) cognate help. This does not require secondary lymphoid structures or germinal center formation, although some bystander T cell-derived IL-4 is necessary. The pathway of spontaneous IgE production is not inhibited by regulatory T cells and increases with age to constitute significant serum concentrations, even in naive animals.
Institute of Experimental Immunology, Department of Pathology, Universitätsspital, Schmelzbergstrasse 12, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland. mccoyk@pathol.unizh.ch
Kathy D
KD
McCoy
Nicola L
NL
Harris
Philipp
P
Diener
Sarah
S
Hatak
Bernhard
B
Odermatt
Lars
L
Hangartner
Beatrice M
BM
Senn
Benjamin J
BJ
Marsland
Markus B
MB
Geuking
Hans
H
Hengartner
Andrew J S
AJ
Macpherson
Rolf M
RM
Zinkernagel
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000502:physiology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000502:physiology
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E