Distinct B‐cell populations contribute to vaccine antigen‐specific antibody production in a transgenic mouse model

• Published in: Immunology Vol. 142; no. 4; pp. 624 - 635
• Main Authors: O, Eunju, Ko, Eun‐Ju, Kim, Min‐Chul, Lee, Young‐Tae, Song, Jae‐Min, Kwon, Young‐Man, Compans, Richard W., Kang, Sang‐Moo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.08.2014; Blackwell Science Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Viral - immunology; Antigens, Viral - pharmacology; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - pathology; Immunologic Memory; Influenza A virus; Influenza Vaccines - immunology; Influenza Vaccines - pharmacology; influenza virus; Leukocyte Common Antigens - genetics; Leukocyte Common Antigens - immunology; Leukosialin - genetics; Leukosialin - immunology; memory B cells; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Original; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - genetics; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - prevention & control; plasma cells; protection; vaccine; influenza virus; vaccine; protection; memory B cells; plasma cells
• ISSN: 0019-2805; 1365-2567
• DOI: 10.1111/imm.12287

Summary The generation of memory B cells by vaccination plays a critical role in maintaining antigen‐specific antibodies and producing antibody responses upon re‐exposure to a pathogen. B‐cell populations contributing to antibody production and protection by vaccination remain poorly defined. We used influenza virus‐like particle (VLP) vaccine in a transgenic mouse model that would identify germinal centre‐derived memory B cells with the expression of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP+ cells). Immunization with influenza VLP vaccine did not induce significant increases in YFP+ cells although vaccine antigen‐specific antibodies in sera were found to confer protection against a lethal dose of influenza A virus (A/PR8). In addition, CD43+ B220− populations with low YFP+ cells mainly contributed to the production of vaccine antigen‐specific IgG isotype‐switched antibodies whereas CD43− B220+ populations with high YFP+ cells were able to produce vaccine antigen‐specific IgM antibodies. Challenge infection of immunized transgenic mice with live influenza A virus resulted in significant increases in YFP+ cells in the B220− populations of spleen and bone marrow cells. These results suggest that CD43+ B220− B cells generated by vaccination are important for producing influenza vaccine antigen‐specific antibodies and conferring protection.