title: Human memory B lymphocyte subsets fulfill distinct roles in the anti-polysaccharide and anti-protein immune response.
abstract: There is controversy on the role of IgM memory and switched memory B lymphocytes in the Ab response to T cell-independent and T cell-dependent Ags. We transplanted SCID/SCID mice with human B lymphocyte subsets and immunized them with heat-inactivated Streptococcus pneumoniae or with a pneumococcal vaccine. Inactivated S. pneumoniae and soluble pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides elicited an IgM anti-polysaccharide and anti-protein Ab response from IgM memory B lymphocytes and an IgG anti-polysaccharide and anti-protein response from switched memory B lymphocytes. In addition to the IgM Ab response, IgM memory B cells elicited an IgG anti-polysaccharide and anti-protein Ab response after immunization with inactivated S. pneumoniae or soluble pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence for a versatile role of IgM memory B cells in T-independent and T-dependent immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Laboratory Medicine, Department of Medical Diagnostic Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Leen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moens
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wuyts
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meyts
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Boeck
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bossuyt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016513:Mice, SCID; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial