Spleen B cells from BALB/c are more prone to activation than spleen B cells from C57BL/6 mice during a secondary immune response to cruzipain.
There is an increasing interest in the study of roles that B cells may play in regulating immune responses both in protection and in pathogenesis. However, little is known about additional immune functions of B cells independently of antibody production. In this study, we have assessed how the immunization with T-dependent antigens in different host genetic backgrounds affects several parameters of B cells during secondary immune responses. We have previously reported that BALB/c immunized with cruzipain, induced heart autoimmunity, whereas C57BL/6 mice were resistant. In a comparative study employing the same experimental model, we demonstrated that BALB/c-enriched spleen B cells presented higher ability to proliferate releasing elevated levels of IL-4. Moreover, spleen of immune BALB/c mice presented an increased number of germinal center and plasma cells as well as higher expression of B-cell activation markers (MHC class II, CD40, CD86). These findings demonstrate the influence of genetic background on B-cell activation and emphasize the importance of examining B-cell behavior in the context of the specific immunogens.
Pellegrini
Andrea
A
Inmunología, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, CIBICI-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
Guiñazú
Natalia
N
Aoki
Maria Pilar
MP
Calero
Isabel Chico
IC
Carrera-Silva
Eugenio Antonio
EA
Girones
Nuria
N
Fresno
Manuel
M
Gea
Susana
S
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D051940:B7-2 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D013045:Species Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*
D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C063214:cruzipain