| First Author | Maecker HT | Year | 1997 |
| Journal | J Exp Med | Volume | 185 |
| Issue | 8 | Pages | 1505-10 |
| PubMed ID | 9126932 | Mgi Jnum | J:40394 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:87733 | Doi | 10.1084/jem.185.8.1505 |
| Citation | Maecker HT, et al. (1997) Normal lymphocyte development but delayed humoral immune response in CD81-null mice. J Exp Med 185(8):1505-10 |
| abstractText | CD81 is a cell surface molecule expressed on many cell types and associated with the CD19/CD21/Leu13 signal-transducing complex on B cells. A recent report implies that CD81 expression on thymic stromal cells is important in the maturation of thymocytes from CD4-CD8- to CD4+CD8+. However, we have produced CD81-null mice by gene targeting, and find that they undergo normal development of thymocytes and express normal numbers of T cells. B cells are also found in normal numbers in the spleen, blood, and peritoneal cavity of CD81-null mice, but they express a lower level of CD19 compared to heterozygous littermates. Finally, early antibody responses to the protein antigen ovalbumin are weaker in CD81-null mice compared to their heterozygous littermates. This is consistent with the proposed role of the CD19/CD21/CD81-signaling complex in lowering the threshold for B cell responses. These results show that CD81 is not required for maturation of T cells, but is important for optimal expression of CD19 on B cells and optimal stimulation of antibody production. |
