| First Author | Shen H | Year | 2003 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 170 |
| Issue | 3 | Pages | 1443-51 |
| PubMed ID | 12538706 | Mgi Jnum | J:126273 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3760936 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.170.3.1443 |
| Citation | Shen H, et al. (2003) A specific role for B cells in the generation of CD8 T cell memory by recombinant Listeria monocytogenes. J Immunol 170(3):1443-51 |
| abstractText | In this study, we investigated whether B cells play a role in the induction and maintenance of CD8 T cell memory after immunization with an intracellular bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes. Our results show that B cells play a minimal role in the initial activation and Ag-driven expansion of CD8 T lymphocytes. However, absence of B cells results in increased death of activated CD8 T cells during the contraction phase, leading to a lower level of Ag-specific CD8 T cell memory. Once memory is established, B cells are no longer required for the long-term maintenance and rapid recall response of memory CD8 T cells. Increased contraction of Ag-specific CD8 T cells in B cell-deficient mice is not due to impaired CD4 T cell responses since priming of epitope-specific CD4 T cell responses is normal in B cell-deficient mice following L. monocytogenes infection. Furthermore, no exaggerated contraction of Ag-specific CD8 T cells is evident in CD4 knockout mice. Thus, B cells play a specific role in modulating the contraction of CD8 T cell responses following immunization. Elucidation of factors that regulate the death phase may allow us to manipulate this process to increase the level of immunological memory and thus, vaccine efficacy. |
