Marginal zone precursor B cells as cellular agents for type I IFN-promoted antigen transport in autoimmunity

J Immunol. 2010 Jan 1;184(1):442-51. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0900870. Epub 2009 Nov 30.

Abstract

The pathogenic connection of type I IFN and its role in regulating the migration response of Ag delivery by B cells into lymphoid follicles in an autoimmune condition has not been well-identified. Here, we show that there was a significantly larger population of marginal zone precursor (MZ-P) B cells, defined as being IgM(hi)CD1d(hi)CD21(hi)CD23(hi) in the spleens of autoimmune BXD2 mice compared with B6 mice. MZ-P B cells were highly proliferative compared with marginal zone (MZ) and follicular (FO) B cells. The intrafollicular accumulation of MZ-P B cells in proximity to germinal centers (GCs) in BXD2 mice facilitated rapid Ag delivery to the GC area, whereas Ag-carrying MZ B cells, residing predominantly in the periphery, had a lower ability to carry Ag into the GCs. IFN-alpha, generated by plasmacytoid dendritic cells, induced the expression of CD69 and suppressed the sphingosine-1-phosphate-induced chemotactic response, promoting FO-oriented Ag transport by MZ-P B cells. Knockout of type I IFN receptor in BXD2 (BXD2-Ifnalphar(-/-)) mice substantially diffused the intrafollicular MZ-P B cell conglomeration and shifted their location to the FO-MZ border near the marginal sinus, making Ag delivery to the FO interior less efficient. The development of spontaneous GCs was decreased in BXD2-Ifnalphar(-/-) mice. Together, our results suggest that the MZ-P B cells are major Ag-delivery B cells and that the FO entry of these B cells is highly regulated by type I IFN-producing plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the marginal sinus in the spleens of autoimmune BXD2 mice.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Autoimmunity / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells, Follicular / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells, Follicular / immunology
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Germinal Center / cytology
  • Germinal Center / immunology
  • Interferon Type I / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / immunology*

Substances

  • Autoantigens
  • Interferon Type I