| First Author | Benedict CL | Year | 1999 |
| Journal | Immunity | Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 607-17 |
| PubMed ID | 10367906 | Mgi Jnum | J:55397 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1337904 | Doi | 10.1016/s1074-7613(00)80060-6 |
| Citation | Benedict CL, et al. (1999) Increased junctional diversity in fetal B cells results in a loss of protective anti-phosphorylcholine antibodies in adult mice. Immunity 10(5):607-17 |
| abstractText | Fetal Igs are less diverse than adult Igs, largely because of the lack of N addition in the absence of Tdt. To test whether the absence of Tdt is essential, we generated Tg mice that express Tdt and add N regions in fetal B cells. When challenged as adults with PC-containing Streptococcus pneumoniae, these mice fail to make the hallmark T15 anti- PC Ab encoded by canonical rearrangements of Ig H and L chain genes. The anti-PC Abs from these mice are altered by premature N addition and do not protect against death from virulent pneumococcal infection. These results show that maintenance of lower Ig diversity in early life is essential for the acquisition of a complete functional adult repertoire. |
