title: Toll-like receptor 2-mediated human B cell differentiation.
abstract: Human B cells likely have a major role in the adjuvant activity of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 agonists by enhancing innate and adaptive immune responses. As several TLR2 ligands are promising vaccine adjuvant candidates, our aim was to characterize the effects of TLR2 stimulation on human B cell activation and differentiation using cells derived from healthy peripheral blood (PB), spleen, and diseased tonsils. We found a subset of partially differentiated TLR2+ PB and splenic B cells which responds to TLR2 agonists by mediating events involved in germinal center formation, such as upregulating CD77 and secreting chemokines. Furthermore, we show that TLR2-activated monocytes induce B cells to secrete significant quantities of IgM. Finally, activated TLR2+ B cells from tonsils are induced to secrete IgM directly by TLR2 ligands. Thus, TLR2 is likely involved in specific B cell-mediated functions and may be a viable vaccine adjuvant target in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Evans Biomedical Research Center, 650 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA. Lisa.ganleyleal@bmc.org
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ganley-Leal
authors.forename: Xiuping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lee M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wetzler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000819:agonists / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D014281:Trihexosylceramides / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018941:Antigens, CD19; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; C495342:TLR2 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D014281:Trihexosylceramides; C018549:globotriaosylceramide