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Inhibition of B‐cell death does not restore T‐cell‐dependent immune responses in CD40‐deficient mice
Author(s) -
Merino Jesús,
Díez Miguel A.,
Muñiz María,
Buelta Luis,
Núñez Gabriel,
LópezHoyos Marcos,
Merino Ramón
Publication year - 2003
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.1365-2567.2003.01690.x
Subject(s) - germinal center , cd40 , b cell , biology , immune system , antibody , apoptosis , microbiology and biotechnology , b 1 cell , programmed cell death , immunology , t cell , antigen , antigen presenting cell , cytotoxic t cell , genetics , in vitro
Summary Signalling through CD40 is essential for the development of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody responses, germinal centres and B‐cell memory against T‐dependent antigens. In addition, engagement of CD40 in B cells promotes cell survival by inducing the expression of anti‐apoptotic members of the bcl‐2 family of cell‐death regulators. In the present study we analysed whether T‐dependent immune responses can be developed in mice deficient in CD40 if the anti‐apoptotic activity mediated by the engagement of CD40 in B cells is compensated by the constitutive over‐expression of anti‐apoptotic genes of the bcl‐2 family. We showed that the over‐expression of either hbcl‐2 or hbcl‐x L transgenes in B cells is not sufficient to restore IgG antibody responses and germinal centre formation in CD40‐deficient mice. These results indicate that CD40 functions, other than those mediated through survival, are required for the establishment of T‐dependent B‐cell responses.