Splenectomized individuals are prone to overwhelming infections with encapsulated bacteria and splenectomy of mice increases susceptibility to streptococcal infections, yet the exact mechanism by which the spleen protects against such infections is unknown. Using congenitally asplenic mice as a model, we show that the spleen is essential for the generation of B-1a cells, a B cell population that cooperates with the innate immune system to control early bacterial and viral growth. Splenectomy of wild-type mice further demonstrated that the spleen is also important for the survival of B-1a cells. Transfer experiments demonstrate that lack of these cells, as opposed to the absence of the spleen per se, is associated with an inability to mount a rapid immune response against streptococcal polysaccharides. Thus, absence of the spleen and the associated increased susceptibility to streptococcal infections is correlated with lack of B-1a B cells. These findings reveal a hitherto unknown role of the spleen in generating and maintaining the B-1a B cell pool.
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18 March 2002
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March 18 2002
B-1a B Cells that Link the Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses Are Lacking in the Absence of the Spleen
Hedda Wardemann,
Hedda Wardemann
Department of Developmental Immunology, Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology, Freiburg 79108, Germany
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Thomas Boehm,
Thomas Boehm
Department of Developmental Immunology, Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology, Freiburg 79108, Germany
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Neil Dear,
Neil Dear
Department of Developmental Immunology, Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology, Freiburg 79108, Germany
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Rita Carsetti
Rita Carsetti
Department of Developmental Immunology, Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology, Freiburg 79108, Germany
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Hedda Wardemann
Department of Developmental Immunology, Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology, Freiburg 79108, Germany
Thomas Boehm
Department of Developmental Immunology, Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology, Freiburg 79108, Germany
Neil Dear
Department of Developmental Immunology, Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology, Freiburg 79108, Germany
Rita Carsetti
Department of Developmental Immunology, Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology, Freiburg 79108, Germany
Address correspondence to Rita Carsetti, Research Center Ospedale Bambino Gesù, University of Tor Vergata, Via di Tor Vergata 135, Rome 00133, Italy. Phone: 39-06-725-96825; Fax: 39-06-725-96822; E-mail: [email protected]
*
Abbreviations used in this paper: BCR, B cell antigen receptor; MZ, marginal zone; TI, thymus independent; T1, transitional 1; T2, transitional 2.
Received:
July 02 2001
Revision Received:
December 12 2001
Accepted:
February 08 2002
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
The Rockefeller University Press
2002
J Exp Med (2002) 195 (6): 771–780.
Article history
Received:
July 02 2001
Revision Received:
December 12 2001
Accepted:
February 08 2002
Citation
Hedda Wardemann, Thomas Boehm, Neil Dear, Rita Carsetti; B-1a B Cells that Link the Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses Are Lacking in the Absence of the Spleen . J Exp Med 18 March 2002; 195 (6): 771–780. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20011140
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