Marginal zone, but not follicular B cells, are potent activators of naive CD4 T cells

J Immunol. 2004 Jan 15;172(2):803-11. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.172.2.803.

Abstract

The early involvement of marginal zone (MZ) B lymphocytes in T-independent immune responses is well established. In this study we compared the abilities of MZ and follicular (FO) B cells to collaborate with T cells. After immunization with soluble hen egg lysozyme, both MZ and FO B cells captured Ag and migrated to T cell areas in the response to hen egg lysozyme. MZ B cells were far superior to FO B cells in inducing CD4+ T cell expansion both in vitro and in vivo. MZ, but not FO, B cells, after interaction with T cells, differentiated into plasma cells, and in addition they stimulated Ag-specific CD4+ T cells to produce high levels of Th1-like cytokines upon primary stimulation in vitro. These results indicate that MZ B cells rapidly and effectively capture soluble Ag and activate CD4+ T cells to become effector T cells. The enhanced capacity of MZ B cells to prime T cells in this study appeared to be intrinsic to MZ B cells, as both MZ and FO B cell populations express an identical Ag receptor.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Antigens, CD / physiology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • B7-1 Antigen / physiology
  • B7-2 Antigen
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cell Division / immunology
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Clone Cells
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Endocytosis / immunology
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / metabolism
  • Interphase / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Cooperation / immunology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Plasma Cells / cytology
  • Spleen / cytology*
  • Spleen / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • B7-1 Antigen
  • B7-2 Antigen
  • Cd86 protein, mouse
  • Cytokines
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Membrane Glycoproteins