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A blood‐borne antigen induces rapid T–B cell contact: a potential mechanism for tolerance induction
Author(s) -
Gütgemann Ines,
Darling Jama M.,
Greenberg Harry B.,
Davis Mark M.,
Chien YuehHsiu
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2567.2002.01527.x
Subject(s) - mechanism (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , antigen , immunology , biology , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
Summary Understanding the difference between the development of a productive T‐cell response and tolerance is central to discerning how the immune system functions. Intravenous injection of soluble protein is thought to mimic the presentation of self‐serum and orally introduced antigens. It is generally toleragenic. The current view is that this outcome reflects the failure of ‘immunogenic’ dendritic cells to relocate to the T‐cell zone of the secondary lymphoid tissues. Here, using a peptide/I‐E k tetramer and antibodies to stain splenic sections, we showed that antigen‐specific T cells were activated in the spleen within hours of injection or feeding of protein. The activated T cells were found to be located at the T–B junction, the bridging zone and the B‐cell area, interacting directly with B cells. In addition, B cells gain the ability to present antigen. Our results suggest a way for T cells to be stimulated by blood‐borne antigen presented by naïve B cells, a potential mechanism of tolerance induction.