Mice deficient for the CD40 ligand.

Abstract

To study the potential roles of CD40L in immune responses, we generated CD40L-deficient mice by gene targeting. Similar to the effects of CD40L mutations in humans (hyper-IgM syndrome), CD40L-deficient mice have a decreased IgM response to thymus-dependent antigens, fail altogether to produce an antigen-specific IgG1 response following immunization, yet respond normally to a T-independent antigen, TNP-Ficoll. Moreover, these mice do not develop germinal centers in response to thymus-dependent antigens, suggesting an inability to develop memory B cell responses. Although CD40L-deficient mice have low levels of most circulating immunoglobulin isotypes, they do not exhibit the spontaneous hyper-IgM syndrome seen in humans, at least up to 12 weeks of age. In summary, our study confirms the important role of CD40-CD40L interactions in thymus-dependent humoral immune responses and germinal center formation.

• Authors: J Xu, T M Foy, J D Laman, E A Elliott, J J Dunn, T J Waldschmidt, J Elsemore, R J Noelle, R A Flavell
• Journal: Immunity (Immunity) Vol. 1 Issue 5 Pg. 423-31 (Aug 1994) ISSN: 1074-7613 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7882172 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulin A
• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunoglobulin M
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• CD40 Ligand

Topics

• Animals
• Antibody Formation
• B-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• CD40 Ligand
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Gene Targeting
• Hypergammaglobulinemia (immunology)
• Immunoglobulin A (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Immunoglobulin G (blood, genetics)
• Immunoglobulin M (blood, genetics)
• Immunologic Memory
• Male
• Membrane Glycoproteins (genetics, physiology)
• Mice
• Mice, Mutant Strains
• Phenotype
• Thymus Gland (immunology)