Macrophages induce differentiation of plasma cells through CXCL10/IP-10

J Exp Med. 2012 Sep 24;209(10):1813-23, S1-2. doi: 10.1084/jem.20112142. Epub 2012 Sep 17.

Abstract

In tonsils, CD138(+) plasma cells (PCs) are surrounded by CD163(+) resident macrophages (Ms). We show here that human Ms (isolated from tonsils or generated from monocytes in vitro) drive activated B cells to differentiate into CD138(+)CD38(++) PCs through secreted CXCL10/IP-10 and VCAM-1 contact. IP-10 production by Ms is induced by B cell-derived IL-6 and depends on STAT3 phosphorylation. Furthermore, IP-10 amplifies the production of IL-6 by B cells, which sustains the STAT3 signals that lead to PC differentiation. IP-10-deficient mice challenged with NP-Ficoll show a decreased frequency of NP-specific PCs and lower titers of antibodies. Thus, our results reveal a novel dialog between Ms and B cells, in which IP-10 acts as a PC differentiation factor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Communication
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology*
  • Chemokine CXCL10 / biosynthesis
  • Chemokine CXCL10 / metabolism*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / biosynthesis
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Palatine Tonsil / immunology
  • Palatine Tonsil / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Plasma Cells / cytology*
  • Plasma Cells / immunology*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antigens
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
  • CD163 antigen
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Interleukin-6
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1