Cutting edge: CD40 ligand is a limiting factor in the humoral response to T cell-dependent antigens

CD40 ligand (CD40L) plays a crucial role in T cell-dependent B cell responses, but whether its abundance is a limiting factor in their development is unclear. This question was addressed in transgenic mice expressing the murine CD40L gene under the control of the IL-2-promoter (CD40Ltg+). The fracti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of immunology (1950) 1999-08, Vol.163 (3), p.1123-1127
Main Authors: Pérez-Melgosa, M, Hollenbaugh, D, Wilson, C B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antigens, T-Independent - immunology
CD40 Antigens - genetics
CD40 Antigens - physiology
CD40 Ligand
Ficoll - analogs & derivatives
Ficoll - immunology
Haptens - immunology
Hemocyanins - immunology
Humans
Immunoglobulin M - biosynthesis
Immunoglobulin M - blood
Ligands
Membrane Glycoproteins - biosynthesis
Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics
Membrane Glycoproteins - physiology
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Transgenic
Picrates - immunology
Promoter Regions, Genetic - immunology
T-Lymphocytes - immunology
T-Lymphocytes - metabolism
Trinitrobenzenes - immunology
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Summary:CD40 ligand (CD40L) plays a crucial role in T cell-dependent B cell responses, but whether its abundance is a limiting factor in their development is unclear. This question was addressed in transgenic mice expressing the murine CD40L gene under the control of the IL-2-promoter (CD40Ltg+). The fraction of activated T cells from the CD40Ltg+ mice with detectable levels of surface CD40L was modestly greater (1.1- to 2-fold) than littermate controls and paralleled an approximately 1.8-fold increase in CD40L mRNA abundance. In response to trinitrophenol (TNP)-keyhole limpet hemocyanin and tetanus/diphtheria vaccine, CD40Ltg+ mice developed higher titers of high-affinity IgG and IgG1 Ab than wild-type mice. In contrast, the Ab response of CD40Ltg+ and control mice was similar in response to the T-independent Ag TNP-Ficoll. These results suggest that a modest increment in expression of CD40L accelerates the development of T-dependent responses, and that CD40L plays a limiting role in the induction of high-affinity Ab and Ab-class switching.
ISSN:0022-1767
1550-6606
DOI:10.4049/jimmunol.163.3.1123