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The in Vitro B‐Cell Response to Pneumococcal Polysaccharides in Adults and Neonates
Author(s) -
RUKERS G. T.,
DOLLEKAMP E. G.,
ZEGERS B. J. M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1987.tb02215.x
Subject(s) - antigen , immunology , b cell , b 1 cell , ovalbumin , biology , cord blood , antibody , immune system , antigen presenting cell , t cell
In order to gain insight itito the relatively late appearance in ontogeny of responsiveness to T‐cell independent (TI) antigens, the in vitro human B‐cell response to type 4 pneumococcal polysaccharides (PS4, a human TI‐2 antigen) was studied. B cells obtained from adults differentiate into anti‐PS4 antibody forming cells upon culturing with PS4, but neonatal B cells obtained from cord blood fail to respond. The culture system used does, however, allow ihe differentiation of B cells reactive with TD antigens, for example ovalbumin. In order to evaluate the concept that in man the anti‐PS4 response is derived from a particular B‐cell subset we separated adult B cells on the basis of expression of the determinant recognized by the monoclonal antibody FMC7. The anti‐PS4 response is found mainly, bul not exclusively, in the FMC7 + subset. The selective unresponsiveness of neonatal B cells to TI‐2 antigens is not, however, due to the absence of FMC7 + B cells because, unlike adult blood B cells of which aboul 50% are FMC7 + , 100% of neonatal B cells are FMC7 + .