Maintenance of serological memory by polyclonal activation of human memory B cells

Science. 2002 Dec 13;298(5601):2199-202. doi: 10.1126/science.1076071.

Abstract

Production of antibodies can last for a lifetime, through mechanisms that remain poorly understood. Here, we show that human memory B lymphocytes proliferate and differentiate into plasma cells in response to polyclonal stimuli, such as bystander T cell help and CpG DNA. Furthermore, plasma cells secreting antibodies to recall antigens are produced in vivo at levels proportional to the frequency of specific memory B cells, even several years after antigenic stimulation. Although antigen boosting leads to a transient increase in specific antibody levels, ongoing polyclonal activation of memory B cells offers a means to maintain serological memory for a human lifetime.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / blood
  • Antibody Formation
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Division
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dinucleoside Phosphates / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunization
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Immunoglobulins / blood
  • Immunoglobulins / immunology
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Interleukin-15 / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / immunology
  • Plasma Cells / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • Tetanus Toxoid / immunology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antigens, CD
  • Dinucleoside Phosphates
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Interleukin-15
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Tetanus Toxoid
  • cytidylyl-3'-5'-guanosine