Rapidly induced, T-cell independent xenoantibody production is mediated by marginal zone B cells and requires help from NK cells.
Xenoantibody production directed at a wide variety of T lymphocyte-dependent and T lymphocyte-independent xenoantigens remains the major immunologic obstacle for successful xenotransplantation. The B lymphocyte subpopulations and their helper factors, involved in T-cell-independent xenoantibody production are only partially understood, and their identification will contribute to the clinical applicability of xenotransplantation. Here we show, using models involving T-cell-deficient athymic recipient mice, that rapidly induced, T-cell-independent xenoantibody production is mediated by marginal zone B lymphocytes and requires help from natural killer (NK) cells. This collaboration neither required NK-cell-mediated IFN-gamma production, nor NK-cell-mediated cytolytic killing of xenogeneic target cells. The T-cell-independent IgM xenoantibody response could be partially suppressed by CD40L blockade.
Li
Shengqiao
S
Laboratory of Experimental Transplantation, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Yan
Yehong
Y
Lin
Yuan
Y
Bullens
Dominique M
DM
Rutgeerts
Omer
O
Goebels
Jozef
J
Segers
Constant
C
Boon
Louis
L
Kasran
Ahmad
A
De Vos
Rita
R
Dewolf-Peeters
Christiane
C
Waer
Mark
M
Billiau
An D
AD
D000818:Animals; D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000235:genetics; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008819:Mice, Nude; D018448:Models, Immunological; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000276:immunology
D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D023201:CD40 Ligand