Deliberate removal of T cell help improves virus-neutralizing antibody production.

Abstract

The B cell response to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus is characterized by a CD4(+) T cell-dependent polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia and delayed formation of virus-specific neutralizing antibodies. Here we provide evidence that, paradoxically, because of polyclonal B cell activation, virus-specific T cell help impairs the induction of neutralizing antibody responses. Experimental reduction in CD4(+) T cell help in vivo resulted in potent neutralizing antibody responses without impairment of CD8(+) T cell activity. These unexpected consequences of polyclonal B cell activation may affect vaccine strategies and the treatment of clinically relevant chronic bacterial, parasitic and viral infections in which hypergammaglobulinemia is regularly found.

• Authors: Mike Recher, Karl S Lang, Lukas Hunziker, Stefan Freigang, Bruno Eschli, Nicola L Harris, Alexander Navarini, Beatrice M Senn, Katja Fink, Marius Lötscher, Lars Hangartner, Raphaël Zellweger, Martin Hersberger, Alexandre Theocharides, Hans Hengartner, Rolf M Zinkernagel
• Journal: Nature immunology (Nat Immunol) Vol. 5 Issue 9 Pg. 934-42 (Sep 2004) ISSN: 1529-2908 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15300247 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Animals
• Antibody Formation (immunology)
• Arenaviridae Infections (immunology)
• B-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Flow Cytometry
• Lymphocyte Activation (immunology)
• Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (immunology)
• Mice