Investigating B Cell Development, Natural and Primary Antibody Responses in Ly-6A/Sca-1 Deficient Mice.
Ly-6A/Stem cell antigen-1 (Ly-6A/Sca-1) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein expressed on many cell types including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and early lymphoid-specific progenitors. Ly-6A/Sca-1 is expressed on CD4+ T cells and plays a role in regulating cellular responses to foreign antigens. The role of Ly-6A/Sca-1 in primary antibody responses has not been defined. To investigate whether Ly-6A/Sca-1 functions in humoral immunity, we first injected Ly-6A/Sca-1-deficient and wild-type control mice with chicken ovalbumin (c-Ova) protein mixed with an adjuvant. We then assessed the ability of the mice to generate a primary antibody response against cOva. We further examined the development of B cells and circulating antibody isotypes in non-immunized Ly-6A/Sca-1deficient mice to determine if Ly6A/Sca-1 functions in development irrespective of antigen-specific immune activation. Ly-6A/Sca-1/Sca-1-deficient mice did not show any significant changes in the number of B lymphocytes in the bone marrow and peripheral lymphoid tissues. Interestingly, Ly-6A/Sca-1/Sca-1-/- mice have significantly elevated serum levels of IgA with λ light chains compared to wild type controls. B cell clusters with high reactivity to anti-IgA λ monoclonal antibody were detected in the lamina propria of the gut, though this was not observed in the bone marrow and peripheral lymphoid tissues. Despite these differences, the Ly-6A/Sca-1deficient mice generated a similar primary antibody response when compared to the wild-type mice. In summary, we conclude that the primary antibody response to cOva antigen is similar in Ly-6A/Sca-1deficient and sufficient mice. In addition, we report significantly higher expression of the immunoglobulin λ light chain by B cells in lamina propria of Ly-6A/Sca-1deficient mice when compared to the wild-type control.
Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, 19085, United States of America.
Morgan A
MA
Jones
Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, 19085, United States of America.
Sean
S
DeWolf
Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, 19085, United States of America.
Vimvara
V
Vacharathit
Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, 19085, United States of America.
Michelle
M
Yim
Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, 19085, United States of America.
Stacey
S
Spencer
Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, 19085, United States of America.
Anil K
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2447-7706
AK
Bamezai
D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000950:Antigens, Ly; C074650:Ly6a protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C049937:anti-IgA