Investigating B Cell Development, Natural and Primary Antibody Responses in Ly-6A/Sca-1 Deficient Mice

PLoS One. 2016 Jun 20;11(6):e0157271. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157271. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Ly-6A/Stem cell antigen-1 (Ly-6A/Sca-1) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein expressed on many cell types including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and early lymphoid-specific progenitors. Ly-6A/Sca-1 is expressed on CD4+ T cells and plays a role in regulating cellular responses to foreign antigens. The role of Ly-6A/Sca-1 in primary antibody responses has not been defined. To investigate whether Ly-6A/Sca-1 functions in humoral immunity, we first injected Ly-6A/Sca-1-deficient and wild-type control mice with chicken ovalbumin (c-Ova) protein mixed with an adjuvant. We then assessed the ability of the mice to generate a primary antibody response against cOva. We further examined the development of B cells and circulating antibody isotypes in non-immunized Ly-6A/Sca-1deficient mice to determine if Ly6A/Sca-1 functions in development irrespective of antigen-specific immune activation. Ly-6A/Sca-1/Sca-1-deficient mice did not show any significant changes in the number of B lymphocytes in the bone marrow and peripheral lymphoid tissues. Interestingly, Ly-6A/Sca-1/Sca-1-/- mice have significantly elevated serum levels of IgA with λ light chains compared to wild type controls. B cell clusters with high reactivity to anti-IgA λ monoclonal antibody were detected in the lamina propria of the gut, though this was not observed in the bone marrow and peripheral lymphoid tissues. Despite these differences, the Ly-6A/Sca-1deficient mice generated a similar primary antibody response when compared to the wild-type mice. In summary, we conclude that the primary antibody response to cOva antigen is similar in Ly-6A/Sca-1deficient and sufficient mice. In addition, we report significantly higher expression of the immunoglobulin λ light chain by B cells in lamina propria of Ly-6A/Sca-1deficient mice when compared to the wild-type control.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / genetics
  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / immunology
  • Antibody Formation / genetics
  • Antibody Formation / immunology*
  • Antigens, Ly / genetics*
  • Antigens, Ly / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Hematopoiesis / genetics*
  • Hematopoiesis / immunology
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice, Knockout
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
  • Antigens, Ly
  • Ly6a protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • anti-IgA

Grants and funding

The authors received no external funding for this work. The project was funded by intramural funding from multiple sources at Villanova University.