Enhanced immune responses in transgenic mice expressing a truncated form of the lymphocyte semaphorin CD100

CD100/Sema4D is a 150-kDa transmembrane protein that belongs to the semaphorin family. Binding of CD100 to CD72 enhances the immune response by turning off the negative signaling effects of CD72. To investigate the physiological functions of CD100 in vivo, we generated transgenic mice expressing a truncated form of CD100. A large amount of the soluble form of CD100 was detected in the sera of mice expressing a truncated form of CD100, although the amount of CD100 was only slightly elevated on the surface of B cells. In the mutant mice the development of conventional B and T cells appeared normal in terms of the surface marker phenotypes, while the number of CD5(+) B-1 cells in the peritoneal cavity increased in comparison with wild-type mice. In vitro proliferation and Ig production of B cells in response to CD40 stimulation were considerably enhanced in mice expressing a truncated form of CD100. Additionally, in vivo both Ab responses against T cell-dependent Ags and generation of Ag-specific T cells were enhanced. Furthermore, introduction of the CD100-transgene could restore in vitro B cell responses as well as in vivo Ab production against T cell-dependent Ag in CD100-deficient mice. Collectively, these results not only indicate that CD100 has an important role in the immune system, but also that the soluble form of CD100 released from the cell surface can exert functions in vivo.