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Marginal zone (MZ) B cells are thought to be responsible for the first wave of Abs against bacterial Ags. In this study, we assessed the in vivo response of MZ B cells in mice immunized with viral particles derived from the RNA phage Qbeta. We found that both follicular (FO) and MZ B cells responded to immunization with viral particles. MZ B cells responded with slightly faster kinetics, but numerically, FO B cells dominated the response. B1 B cells responded similarly to MZ B cells. Both MZ and FO B cells underwent isotype switching, with MZ B cells again exhibiting faster kinetics. In fact, almost all Qbeta-specific MZ B cells expressed surface IgG by day 5. Histological analysis demonstrated that a population of activated B cells remain associated with the MZ, probably due to the elevated integrin levels expressed by these cells. Thus, both MZ and FO B cells respond with rapid proliferation to viral infection and both populations undergo isotype switching, but MZ B cells remain in the MZ and may be responsible for local Ab production, opsonizing pathogens entering the spleen.

Original publication

DOI

10.4049/jimmunol.173.7.4308

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Immunol

Publication Date

01/10/2004

Volume

173

Pages

4308 - 4316

Keywords

Allolevivirus, Animals, Antigens, CD, B-Lymphocyte Subsets, Biomarkers, Female, Flow Cytometry, Germinal Center, Immunoglobulin Class Switching, Immunoglobulin G, Immunoglobulin M, Integrin alpha4beta1, Lymphocyte Cooperation, Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1, Membrane Glycoproteins, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Receptors, Virus, Spleen, T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer, Tetraspanin 29, Time Factors, Up-Regulation, Virion