Oral-Nasopharyngeal Dendritic Cells Mediate T Cell-Independent IgA Class Switching on B-1 B Cells
2011

Nasal Dendritic Cells Help B-1 B Cells Make IgA Antibodies

Sample size: 10 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Kataoka Kosuke, Fujihashi Keiko, Terao Yutaka, Gilbert Rebekah S., Sekine Shinichi, Kobayashi Ryoki, Fukuyama Yoshiko, Kawabata Shigetada, Fujihashi Kohtaro

Primary Institution: The University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America

Hypothesis

Oral-nasopharyngeal dendritic cells mediate T cell-independent IgA class switching on B-1 B cells.

Conclusion

Nasal cholera toxin enhances IgA class switching in B-1 B cells through interactions with dendritic cells.

Supporting Evidence

  • Nasal administration of cholera toxin enhances IgA responses.
  • B-1 B cells can switch to produce IgA without T cell help.
  • Dendritic cells in the nasal area express APRIL, which aids in IgA class switching.
  • Significant increases in IgA+ B-1 B cells were observed in treated mice.

Takeaway

This study shows that certain cells in the nose help special immune cells make a type of antibody called IgA, which is important for fighting germs.

Methodology

Mice were nasally immunized with TNP-LPS and native cholera toxin, and various immune responses were measured.

Limitations

The study primarily used mouse models, which may not fully represent human immune responses.

Participant Demographics

Female C57BL/6 mice, 8 to 12 weeks old.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0025396

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