Critical role for mouse marginal zone B cells in PF4/heparin antibody production

Blood. 2013 Apr 25;121(17):3484-92. doi: 10.1182/blood-2013-01-477091. Epub 2013 Mar 4.

Abstract

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune-mediated disorder that can cause fatal arterial or venous thrombosis/thromboembolism. Immune complexes consisting of platelet factor 4 (PF4), heparin, and PF4/heparin-reactive antibodies are central to the pathogenesis of HIT. However, the B-cell origin of HIT antibody production is not known. Here, we show that anti-PF4/heparin antibodies are readily generated in wild-type mice on challenge with PF4/heparin complexes, and that antibody production is severely impaired in B-cell-specific Notch2-deficient mice that lack marginal zone (MZ) B cells. As expected, Notch2-deficient mice responded normally to challenge with T-cell-dependent antigen nitrophenyl-chicken γ globulin but not to the T-cell-independent antigen trinitrophenyl-Ficoll. In addition, wild-type, but not Notch2-deficient, B cells plus B-cell-depleted wild-type splenocytes adoptively transferred into B-cell-deficient μMT mice responded to PF4/heparin complex challenge. PF4/heparin-specific antibodies produced by wild-type mice were IgG2b and IgG3 isotypes. An in vitro class-switching assay showed that MZ B cells were capable of producing antibodies of IgG2b and IgG3 isotypes. Lastly, MZ, but not follicular, B cells adoptively transferred into B-cell-deficient μMT mice responded to PF4/heparin complex challenge by producing PF4/heparin-specific antibodies of IgG2b and IgG3 isotypes. Taken together, these data demonstrate that MZ B cells are critical for PF4/heparin-specific antibody production.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation*
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects
  • Anticoagulants / immunology
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / chemistry
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Coagulants / adverse effects
  • Coagulants / immunology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Heparin / adverse effects
  • Heparin / immunology*
  • Immunization
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Platelet Factor 4 / adverse effects
  • Platelet Factor 4 / immunology*
  • Receptor, Notch2 / physiology
  • Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced
  • Thrombocytopenia / diagnosis
  • Thrombocytopenia / immunology*

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Autoantibodies
  • Coagulants
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Notch2 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, Notch2
  • Platelet Factor 4
  • Heparin