title: Distinct B-cell populations contribute to vaccine antigen-specific antibody production in a transgenic mouse model.
abstract: The generation of memory B cells by vaccination plays a critical role in maintaining antigen-specific antibodies and producing antibody responses upon re-exposure to a pathogen. B-cell populations contributing to antibody production and protection by vaccination remain poorly defined. We used influenza virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine in a transgenic mouse model that would identify germinal centre-derived memory B cells with the expression of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP(+) cells). Immunization with influenza VLP vaccine did not induce significant increases in YFP(+) cells although vaccine antigen-specific antibodies in sera were found to confer protection against a lethal dose of influenza A virus (A/PR8). In addition, CD43(+)  B220(-) populations with low YFP(+) cells mainly contributed to the production of vaccine antigen-specific IgG isotype-switched antibodies whereas CD43(-)  B220(+) populations with high YFP(+) cells were able to produce vaccine antigen-specific IgM antibodies. Challenge infection of immunized transgenic mice with live influenza A virus resulted in significant increases in YFP(+) cells in the B220(-) populations of spleen and bone marrow cells. These results suggest that CD43(+)  B220(-) B cells generated by vaccination are important for producing influenza vaccine antigen-specific antibodies and conferring protection.
authors.affiliation: Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Eunju
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O
authors.forename: Eun-Ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Min-Chul
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Young-Man
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Compans
authors.forename: Sang-Moo
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051917:Leukosialin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D051917:Leukosialin; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens
keywords: influenza virus; memory B cells; plasma cells; protection; vaccine