Long-term maternal imprinting of the specific B cell repertoire by maternal antibodies
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
18081043
Abstract
Maternal antibodies protect newborns whilst they are immunologically immature. This study shows that maternal antibodies can also shape the B cell repertoire of the offspring long after the maternal antibodies themselves become undetectable. V(H)DJ(H) gene-targeted (VI10) mice expressing a heavy chain specific for vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) produce a 20-fold increased spontaneous titer of VSV-neutralizing antibodies. When transferred from mother to offspring, these antibodies prevented accumulation of Ag-specific transitional type 2 and marginal zone B cells with an activated phenotype and favored selection to the B cell follicles. This effect was B cell-intrinsic and lasted up to adulthood. The pups nursed by mothers producing specific antibodies developed higher endogenous antibody titers of this specificity which perpetuated the effects of specific B cell selection into the mature follicular compartment, presumably by blocking auto-Ag-dependent development of transitional type 2 B cells in the spleen. This repertoire change was functional, as following infection of adult mice with VSV, those pups that had received specific maternal antibodies as neonates had increased pre-immune titers and mounted strong early IgG neutralizing antibodies.
Date Issued
2008
Publication Type
Article
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Fink, Katja | |
Zellweger, Raphael | |
Weber, Jacqueline | |
Manjarrez-Orduno, Nataly | |
Holdener, Martin | |
Senn, Beatrice M | |
Hengartner, Hans | |
Zinkernagel, Rolf M |
Additional Credits
Journal
European journal of immunology
Publisher
Wiley-VCH
ISSN
0014-2980
ISBN
18081043
Access(Rights)
metadata.only