Rapid response of marginal zone B cells to viral particles

J Immunol. 2004 Oct 1;173(7):4308-16. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.7.4308.

Abstract

Marginal zone (MZ) B cells are thought to be responsible for the first wave of Abs against bacterial Ags. In this study, we assessed the in vivo response of MZ B cells in mice immunized with viral particles derived from the RNA phage Qbeta. We found that both follicular (FO) and MZ B cells responded to immunization with viral particles. MZ B cells responded with slightly faster kinetics, but numerically, FO B cells dominated the response. B1 B cells responded similarly to MZ B cells. Both MZ and FO B cells underwent isotype switching, with MZ B cells again exhibiting faster kinetics. In fact, almost all Qbeta-specific MZ B cells expressed surface IgG by day 5. Histological analysis demonstrated that a population of activated B cells remain associated with the MZ, probably due to the elevated integrin levels expressed by these cells. Thus, both MZ and FO B cells respond with rapid proliferation to viral infection and both populations undergo isotype switching, but MZ B cells remain in the MZ and may be responsible for local Ab production, opsonizing pathogens entering the spleen.

MeSH terms

  • Allolevivirus / immunology*
  • Allolevivirus / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / virology*
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Germinal Center / cytology
  • Germinal Center / immunology
  • Germinal Center / metabolism
  • Germinal Center / virology
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching
  • Immunoglobulin G / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulin M / biosynthesis
  • Integrin alpha4beta1 / biosynthesis
  • Lymphocyte Cooperation / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / biosynthesis
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / biosynthesis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptors, Virus / metabolism
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology*
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Spleen / virology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / virology
  • Tetraspanin 29
  • Time Factors
  • Up-Regulation / immunology
  • Virion / immunology*
  • Virion / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Biomarkers
  • Cd9 protein, mouse
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Integrin alpha4beta1
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Receptors, Virus
  • Tetraspanin 29