Cutting Edge: Enhancement of Antibody Responses Through Direct Stimulation of B and T Cells by Type I IFN

TLDR

Type I IFN (IFN‑αβ) is rapidly induced by infection, drives innate antiviral defense, and also stimulates adaptive immunity by enhancing antibody and T‑cell responses. The study investigated whether B and T cells are direct targets of IFN‑αβ during its augmentation of antibody responses to a soluble protein antigen. The authors examined the role of IFN‑αβR signaling in B and T cells by using mice with selective deficiency of the receptor in these cell types. IFN‑αβR signaling in both B and T cells is essential for IFN‑α–mediated antibody production and isotype switching, as its loss markedly reduces these responses.

Abstract

Abstract Type I IFN (IFN-αβ) is induced rapidly by infection and plays a key role in innate antiviral defense. IFN-αβ also exerts stimulatory effects on the adaptive immune system and has been shown to enhance Ab and T cell responses. We have investigated the importance of B and T cells as direct targets of IFN-αβ during IFN-α-mediated augmentation of the Ab response against a soluble protein Ag. Strikingly, the ability of IFN-α to stimulate the Ab response and induce isotype switching was markedly reduced in mice in which B cells were selectively deficient for the IFN-αβR. Moreover, IFN-α-mediated enhancement of the Ab response was also greatly impaired in mice in which T cells were selectively IFN-αβR-deficient. These results indicate that IFN-αβR signaling in both B and T cells plays an important role in the stimulation of Ab responses by IFN-αβ.