| First Author | Pao W | Year | 1996 |
| Journal | Curr Biol | Volume | 6 |
| Issue | 10 | Pages | 1317-25 |
| PubMed ID | 8939571 | Mgi Jnum | J:95802 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3527350 | Doi | 10.1016/s0960-9822(02)70718-5 |
| Citation | Pao W, et al. (1996) Gamma delta T cell help of B cells is induced by repeated parasitic infection, in the absence of other T cells. Curr Biol 6(10):1317-25 |
| abstractText | BACKGROUND: gamma delta T cells, like alpha beta T cells, are components of all well-studied vertebrate immune systems. Yet, the contribution of gamma delta T cells to immune responses is poorly characterized. In particular, it has not been resolved whether gamma delta cells, independent of any other T cells, can help B cells produce immunoglobulin and form germinal centers, anatomical foci of specialized T cell-B cell collaboration. RESULTS: TCR beta-/- mice, which lack all T cells except gamma delta T cells, routinely displayed higher levels of antibody than fully T cell-deficient mice. Repeated parasitic infection of TCR beta-/- mice, but not of T cell-deficient mice, increased antibody levels and induced germinal centers that contained B cells and monoclonal gamma delta cells in close juxtaposition. However, antibody specificities were more commonly against self than against the challenging pathogen. gamma delta T cell-B cell help was not induced by repeated inoculation of TCR beta-/- mice with mycobacterial antigens. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of any other T cells, gamma delta T cell-B cell collaboration can be significantly enhanced by repeated infection. However, the lack of obvious enrichment for antibodies against the challenging pathogen distinguishes gamma delta T cell help from alpha beta T cell help induced under analogous circumstances. The increased production of generalized antibodies may be particularly relevant to the development of autoimmunity, which commonly occurs in patients suffering from alpha beta T cell deficiencies, such as AIDS. |
