CD40 ligand supports the long-term maintenance and differentiation of chicken B cells in culture.
TNF family members play crucial roles in mammalian B-cell differentiation and function, many of which have not been demonstrated in other species. To investigate the avian CD40/CD40L system, a chicken CD40 cDNA, obtained by expression screening, was used to raise monoclonal antibodies showing that CD40 was expressed on chicken B cells, monocytes and macrophages, like mammalian CD40. CD40 ligand fusion protein supported the proliferation of B cells in culture for up to 3 weeks, during which they differentiated towards a plasma cell phenotype. CD40L-activated B cells from immunised birds secreted antigen-specific IgM and IgG. These results showed important conserved functions of CD40 and its ligand in mammals and birds. CD40L provides a means for maintenance and differentiation of untransformed chicken B cells in culture, for the first time, allowing new approaches to study of post-bursal B cell biology and host-pathogen interactions with B cell tropic viruses.
Kothlow
Sonja
S
Institute for Animal Physiology, University of Munich, Veterinärstr. 13, 80539 Munich, Germany. Sonja.Kothlow@lmu.de
Morgenroth
Iris
I
Tregaskes
Clive A
CA
Kaspers
Bernd
B
Young
John R
JR
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002645:Chickens; D004285:Dogs; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000276:immunology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D019013:CD40 Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin