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Low expression of the interleukin (IL)‐4 receptor alpha chain and reduced signalling via the IL‐4 receptor complex in human neonatal B cells
Author(s) -
Tian Cuixia,
Kron Grace K.,
Dischert Kevin M.,
Higginbotham James N.,
Crowe James E.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2006.02405.x
Subject(s) - alpha chain , biology , receptor , antibody , immunology , receptor expression , interleukin 10 receptor, alpha subunit , immune system , alpha (finance) , microbiology and biotechnology , apoptosis , interleukin 4 , endocrinology , gene , medicine , g alpha subunit , biochemistry , construct validity , nursing , protein subunit , patient satisfaction
Summary Diminished neonatal antibody responses following infection or immunization may stem in part from intrinsic characteristics of neonatal B cells. In this study, we used B‐cell subset sorting combined with gene expression assays to investigate major differences in the expression of host genes in neonatal and adult naïve B cells. We discovered significantly reduced expression of the interleukin (IL)‐4 receptor alpha chain and reduced IL‐4‐induced signalling in neonatal B cells. Neonatal naïve B cells were susceptible to more rapid and more profound levels of apoptosis when cultured in vitro . They also exhibited a limited response to IL‐4 treatment compared with adult cells. The expression level of the IL‐13 receptor alpha 1 chain, a key component of the IL‐13 receptor/IL‐4 type II receptor, and the response to IL‐13 treatment for protection against apoptosis in neonatal B cells were similar to those of the adult B cells. These studies suggest a possible mechanism underlying the limited magnitude and durability of neonatal antibody responses.