Regulation and Maintenance of an Adoptive T-Cell Dependent Memory B Cell Pool

PLoS One. 2016 Nov 23;11(11):e0167003. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167003. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

We investigated the ability of monoclonal B cells to restore primary and secondary T-cell dependent antibody responses in adoptive immune-deficient hosts. Priming induced B cell activation and expansion, AID expression, antibody production and the generation of IgM+IgG- and IgM-IgG+ antigen-experienced B-cell subsets that persisted in the lymphopenic environment by cell division. Upon secondary transfer and recall the IgM-IgG+ cells responded by the production of antigen-specific IgG while the IgM+ memory cells secreted mainly IgM and little IgG, but generated new B cells expressing germinal center markers. The recall responses were more efficient if the antigenic boost was delayed suggesting that a period of adaptation is necessary before the transferred cells are able to respond. Overall these findings indicate that reconstitution of a functional and complete memory pool requires transfer of all different antigen-experienced B cell subsets. We also found that the size of the memory B cell pool did not rely on the number of the responding naïve B cells, suggesting autonomous homeostatic controls for naïve and memory B cells. By reconstituting a stable memory B cell pool in immune-deficient hosts using a monoclonal high-affinity B cell population we demonstrate the potential value of B cell adoptive immunotherapy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics
  • Antigens, Differentiation / immunology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Germinal Center / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin G / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin M / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology*
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grant AdG09 249740-QSIS from the European Research Council, the Institut Pasteur and the Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.