Role for T cell-independent B cell activity in the resolution of primary rotavirus infection in mice.

Abstract

We examined the importance of T cell-independent B cell activity in the resolution of primary murine (EDIM) rotavirus infection in adult mice. We showed that Rag 1 (C57BL / 6 background) and Rag 2 (BALB / c background) knockout mice, which lack both T and B cells, chronically shed high levels of rotavirus Ag in stool samples following oral inoculation. However, nude mice (BALB / c and C57BL / 6 backgrounds) and alpha beta TCR knockout mice (C57BL / 6 background) chronically shed 100-fold lower levels of virus in stool samples. Thus, B cells appeared to sharply reduce the level of chronic rotavirus shedding by a T cell-independent mechanism. C57BL / 6 mice depleted of CD4(+) cells or both CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells were also unable to resolve primary rotavirus infection but chronically shed equally low levels of rotavirus Ag in stool samples, whereas mice depleted of only CD8(+) cells resolved infection. Similar results were obtained with a second rotavirus strain (EC(w)) in which virus was shed chronically in stool samples at low levels in alpha beta TCR knockout mice and at high levels in Rag 1 knockout mice. Virus-specific intestinal IgA was readily detected in mice lacking thymic T cells and alpha beta T cells and in mice depleted of CD4(+) cells but levels were 95 % reduced in comparison to immunocompetent control mice. Together, these results show that B cells lacking CD4(+) T cell help have the capacity to substantially reduce rotavirus shedding, possibly through the production of T cell-independent IgA to rotavirus, but full resolution requires alpha beta T cells.

• Authors: J L VanCott, M M McNeal, J Flint, S A Bailey, A H Choi, R L Ward
• Journal: European journal of immunology (Eur J Immunol) Vol. 31 Issue 11 Pg. 3380-7 (Nov 2001) ISSN: 0014-2980 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 11745356 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• CD4 Antigens
• DNA-Binding Proteins
• Homeodomain Proteins
• Rag2 protein, mouse
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
• V(D)J recombination activating protein 2
• RAG-1 protein

Topics

• Animals
• B-Lymphocytes (physiology)
• CD4 Antigens (physiology)
• DNA-Binding Proteins (physiology)
• Homeodomain Proteins (physiology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Nude
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta (physiology)
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta (physiology)
• Rotavirus Infections (immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes (physiology)