Plasma cell differentiation in T-independent type 2 immune responses is independent of CD11c(high) dendritic cells.
Dendritic cells (DC) play an important role as antigen-presenting cells in T cell stimulation. Interestingly, a number of recent studies also imply DC as critical accessory cells in B cell activation, isotype switching and plasma blast maintenance. Here we use the conditional in vivo ablation of CD11c(high) DC to investigate the role of these cells in T-independent type 2 immune responses. We show that CD11c(high) DC are dispensable for the initiation and maintenance of a primary immune response against the T-independent type 2 antigen (4-hydroxy-3-nirophenyl)acetyl-Ficoll. Our results suggest that support for plasma cell formation in T cell-independent immune responses can be provided by non-DC such as stromal cells, or is independent of external signals. Interestingly, we found plasma blasts to express CD11c and to be diphtheria toxin-sensitive in CD11c-diphtheria toxin receptor-transgenic mice, providing a unique tool for future analysis of in vivo aspects of plasma cell biology.
Hebel
Katrin
K
German Arthritis Research Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Griewank
Klaus
K
Inamine
Ayako
A
Chang
Hyun-Dong
HD
Müller-Hilke
Brigitte
B
Fillatreau
Simon
S
Manz
Rudolf A
RA
Radbruch
Andreas
A
Jung
Steffen
S
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D039521:CD11c Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005362:Ficoll / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
C516150:(4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl-Ficoll; D000906:Antibodies; D039521:CD11c Antigen; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin; C587884:Hbegf protein, mouse; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D005362:Ficoll