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Differential effects of Francisella tularensis lipopolysaccharide on B lymphocytes
Author(s) -
Rahhal Riad M.,
Vanden Bush Tony J.,
McLendon Molly K.,
Apicella Michael A.,
Bishop Gail A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.1206765
Subject(s) - francisella tularensis , biology , tularemia , lipopolysaccharide , microbiology and biotechnology , francisella , differential (mechanical device) , immunology , virology , virulence , gene , genetics , engineering , aerospace engineering
Francisella tularensis , a designated Category A biological agent, can cause severe infection in humans. Previous studies have demonstrated a significant immunoprotective role for B lymphocytes in animal models, but the responses of human B lymphocytes to F. tularensis components are largely unknown. The LPS of F. tularensis is atypical and has been reported to lack biological activity on myeloid cells and mouse B cells. Our study characterized the immunological effects of highly purified LPS from different stains of F. tularensis on human B lymphocytes and compared these effects with those on mouse B cells and human monocyte‐derived macrophages. Results indicate that marked differences exist between cell type and species in specific responses to this interesting bacterial component. In sharp contrast to responses of mouse splenic B cells or human macrophages, human peripheral B cells showed reproducibly elevated IL‐6, TNF‐α, and antibody production in response to F. tularensis LPS. Data also indicated that these activated human B lymphocytes may subsequently promote the activation of other immune cell types by direct cell–cell interaction. Further investigation into the potential usefulness of F. tularensis LPS as an adjuvant component of a more optimal subunit vaccine is warranted, as it is now clear that it is not biologically inactive, as assumed previously.