| First Author | Haas KM | Year | 2004 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 172 |
| Issue | 10 | Pages | 5833-7 |
| PubMed ID | 15128761 | Mgi Jnum | J:89804 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3041659 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.172.10.5833 |
| Citation | Haas KM, et al. (2004) Cutting edge: C3d functions as a molecular adjuvant in the absence of CD21/35 expression. J Immunol 172(10):5833-7 |
| abstractText | Complement component C3 covalently attaches to Ags following activation, where the C3d cleavage fragment can function as a molecular adjuvant to augment humoral immune responses. C3d is proposed to exert its adjuvant-like activities by targeting Ags to the C3d receptor (CD21/35) expressed by B cells and follicular dendritic cells. To directly assess the importance of CD21/35 in mediating the immunostimulatory effects of C3d, CD21/35-deficient (CD21/35(-/-)) mice were immunized with streptavidin (SA), SA-C3dg tetramers, recombinant HIV gp120 (gp120), or gp120 fused with linear multimers of C3d. Remarkably, SA- and gp120-specific Ab responses were significantly augmented in CD21/35(-/-) mice when these Ags were complexed with C3d in comparison to Ag alone. In fact, primary and secondary Ab responses and Ab-forming cell responses of CD21/35(-/-) mice approached those of wild-type mice immunized with SA-C3dg and gp120-C3d. Thus, C3d can function as a molecular adjuvant in the absence of CD21/35 expression. |
