European Journal of Immunology · 2007 · 152 citations · 19 references
Life SciencesCell BiologyImmunologyAdaptive ImmunityImmunoregulationMolecular ImmunologyB Cell ActivationB Cell BiologyCell-mediated ImmunityHumoral ImmunityLymphocyte ActivationToll-like ReceptorsAntigen-specific Immune ResponseB Cell-mediated ImmunityB-cell Mediated ImmunityNaive B Cell ActivationNaive B Cell ResponsesT-cell Immune ResponsesT-cell Mediated ResponsesToll-like Receptor Signaling
Mechanisms that regulate naïve B cell proliferation and function are incompletely defined. In this study, we test the hypothesis that naïve B cell expansion, survival and ability to present antigen to T lymphocytes can be directly modulated by Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists. In the absence of B cell receptor stimulation, CpG oligonucleotide, a TLR9 agonist, was particularly efficient in inducing naïve B cell proliferation and survival. Although the expanded naïve B cells did not mature into CD27+ or IgG+ memory B cells, these cells did differentiate into IgM-secreting cells with increased surface expression of HLA-DR, CD40 and CD80. This was associated with an increased potential for these B cells to activate allogeneic T cells. We propose that the activation and expansion of naïve B cells induced by TLR9 agonists could enhance the potential of these cells to interact with cognate antigens and facilitate cell-mediated immune responses.
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