title: Antigen presentation and transfer between B cells and macrophages.
abstract: B cells play an active role in directing immunity against specific proteins in part because of their capacity to sequester antigen via B cell receptor (BCR). Our prior findings indicate that B cells can initiate an immune response in vivo to self proteins independent of other antigen-presenting cells (APC). However, these studies also demonstrated that both dendritic cells and macrophages are important in the ongoing immune response. The present work illustrates a mechanism by which antigen acquired by B cells through BCR is specifically transferred to other APC, in particular, macrophages. The transfer of antigen is dependent on the specificity of BCR and requires direct contact between the cells, but does not require MHC compatibility between the cells and is independent of the activation state of macrophages. Antigen transfer is functional, in that macrophages, which received B cell derived-antigen, can activate CD4 T cells. Overall, these results define a novel mechanism by which B cells can focus immunity toward a specific antigen and transfer the ability to activate CD4 T cells to other APC.
authors.affiliation: Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Bohdan P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Renelle J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gee
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Haberman
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shlomchik
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mamula
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton