TLR4-and TRIF-dependent stimulation of B lymphocytes by peptide liposomes enables T cell–independent isotype switch in mice

M Pihlgren, AB Silva, R Madani… - Blood, The Journal …, 2013 - ashpublications.org
M Pihlgren, AB Silva, R Madani, V Giriens, Y Waeckerle-Men, A Fettelschoss, DT Hickman…
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2013ashpublications.org
Immunoglobulin class switching from IgM to IgG in response to peptides is generally T cell–
dependent and vaccination in T cell–deficient individuals is inefficient. We show that a
vaccine consisting of a dense array of peptides on liposomes induced peptide-specific IgG
responses totally independent of T-cell help. Independency was confirmed in mice lacking T
cells and in mice deficient for MHC class II, CD40L, and CD28. The IgG titers were high, long-
lived, and comparable with titers obtained in wild-type animals, and the antibody response …
Abstract
Immunoglobulin class switching from IgM to IgG in response to peptides is generally T cell–dependent and vaccination in T cell–deficient individuals is inefficient. We show that a vaccine consisting of a dense array of peptides on liposomes induced peptide-specific IgG responses totally independent of T-cell help. Independency was confirmed in mice lacking T cells and in mice deficient for MHC class II, CD40L, and CD28. The IgG titers were high, long-lived, and comparable with titers obtained in wild-type animals, and the antibody response was associated with germinal center formation, expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase, and affinity maturation. The T cell–independent (TI) IgG response was strictly dependent on ligation of TLR4 receptors on B cells, and concomitant TLR4 and cognate B-cell receptor stimulation was required on a single-cell level. Surprisingly, the IgG class switch was mediated by TIR-domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-β (TRIF), but not by MyD88. This study demonstrates that peptides can induce TI isotype switching when antigen and TLR ligand are assembled and appropriately presented directly to B lymphocytes. A TI vaccine could enable efficient prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination of patients with T-cell deficiencies and find application in diseases where induction of T-cell responses contraindicates vaccination, for example, in Alzheimer disease.
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