|
||
Brief Definitive Report |
Correspondence to: Robert S. Mittler, Dept. of Surgery, Transplantation Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, 5105 Woodruff Memorial Bldg., Atlanta, GA 30322. Tel:404-727-8466 Fax:404-727-3660 E-mail:Rmittler26{at}aol.com.
The 4-1BB receptor (CDw137), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, has been shown to costimulate the activation of T cells. Here we show that antimouse 4-1BB monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) inhibit thymus-dependent antibody production by B cells. Injection of anti4-1BB mAbs into mice being immunized with cellular or soluble protein antigens induced long-term anergy of antigen-specific T cells. The immune response to the type II T cellindependent antigen trinintrophenol-conjugated Ficoll, however, was not suppressed. Inhibition of humoral immunity occurred only when anti4-1BB mAb was given within 1 wk after immunization. Anti4-1BB inhibition was observed in mice lacking functional CD8+ T cells, indicating that CD8+ T cells were not required for the induction of anergy. Analysis of the requirements for the anti4-1BBmediated inhibition of humoral immunity revealed that suppression could not be adoptively transferred with T cells from anti4-1BBtreated mice. Transfer of BALB/c splenic T cells from sheep red blood cell (SRBC)-immunized and anti4-1BBtreated mice together with normal BALB/c B cells into C.B-17 severe combined immunodeficient mice failed to generate an anti-SRBC response. However, B cells from the SRBC-immunized, anti4-1BBtreated BALB/c mice, together with normal naive T cells, exhibited a normal humoral immune response against SRBC after transfer, demonstrating that SRBC-specific B cells were left unaffected by anti4-1BB mAbs.
Key Words: 4-1BB receptor, costimulation, humoral immunity, anergy
This article has been cited by other articles:
| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|