title: Trypanosoma cruzi infection induces a massive extrafollicular and follicular splenic B-cell response which is a high source of non-parasite-specific antibodies.
abstract: Acute infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas' disease, results in parasitaemia and polyclonal lymphocyte activation. It has been reported that polyclonal B-cell activation is associated with hypergammaglobulinaemia and delayed parasite-specific antibody response. In the present study we analysed the development of a B-cell response within the different microenvironments of the spleen during acute T. cruzi infection. We observed massive germinal centre (GC) and extrafollicular (EF) responses at the peak of infection. However, the EF foci were evident since day 3 post-infection (p.i.), and, early in the infection, they mainly provided IgM. The EF foci response reached its peak at 11 days p.i. and extended from the red pulp into the periarteriolar lymphatic sheath. The GCs were detected from day 8 p.i. At the peak of parasitaemia, CD138(+) B220(+) plasma cells in EF foci, red pulp and T-cell zone expressed IgM and all the IgG isotypes. Instead of the substantial B-cell response, most of the antibodies produced by splenic cells did not target the parasite, and parasite-specific IgG isotypes could be detected in sera only after 18 days p.i. We also observed that the bone marrow of infected mice presented a strong reduction in CD138(+) B220(+) cells compared with that of normal mice. Hence, in acute infection with T. cruzi, the spleen appears to be the most important lymphoid organ that lodges plasma cells and the main producer of antibodies. The development of a B-cell response during T. cruzi infection shows features that are particular to T. cruzi and other protozoan infection but different to other infections or immunization with model antigens.
authors.affiliation: Immunology, School of Chemical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Daniela A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bermejo
authors.forename: María C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Amezcua Vesely
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Eva V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Acosta Rodríguez
authors.forename: Carolina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Montes
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.forename: Kai Michael
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Toellner
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Adam F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gruppi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan