title: Mechanisms that determine plasma cell lifespan and the duration of humoral immunity.
abstract: Humoral immunity following vaccination or infection is mainly derived from two types of cells: memory B cells and plasma cells. Memory B cells do not actively secrete antibody but instead maintain their immunoglobulin in the membrane-bound form that serves as the antigen-specific B-cell receptor. In contrast, plasma cells are terminally differentiated cells that no longer express surface-bound immunoglobulin but continuously secrete antibody without requiring further antigenic stimulation. Pre-existing serum or mucosal antibody elicited by plasma cells (or other intermediate antibody-secreting cells) represents the first line of defense against reinfection and is critical for protection against many microbial diseases. However, the mechanisms involved with maintaining long-term antibody production are not fully understood. Here, we examine several models of long-term humoral immunity and present a new model, described as the 'Imprinted Lifespan' model of plasma cell longevity. The foundation of this model is that plasma cells are imprinted with a predetermined lifespan based on the magnitude of B-cell signaling that occurs during the induction of an antigen-specific humoral immune response. This represents a testable hypothesis and may explain why some antigen-specific antibody responses fade over time whereas others are maintained essentially for life.
authors.affiliation: Najít Technologies, Inc., Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Amanna
authors.forename: Mark K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Slifka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000276:immunology*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens