Related Experiment Videos
Primed B cells present type-II collagen to T cells
M Holmdahl1, M Vestberg, R Holmdahl
1Section for Medical Inflammation Research, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. meirav.holmdahl@inflam.lu.se
Scandinavian Journal of Immunology
|April 23, 2002
Summary
B cells can present collagen type II (CII) to T cells, acting as antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Antigen-primed B cells are more effective APCs than naive B cells in initiating T-cell responses relevant to arthritis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Autoimmunity
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Collagen type II (CII)-induced arthritis (CIA) development involves T-cell activation of B cells.
- The role of B cells as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for CII in CIA pathogenesis remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the capacity of B cells to present CII to T cells.
- To determine if antigen-primed B cells are more effective APCs than naive B cells in the context of CIA.
Main Methods:
- Purification of B cells from immunized and nonimmunized mice lymph nodes.
- Utilizing B cells as APCs for antigen-specific T-cell hybridomas.
- Assessing T-cell activation in response to native CII (nCII), denatured CII (dCII), and ovalbumin (OVA).
Main Results:
- Naive B cells presented nCII, dCII, and OVA to T-cell hybridomas.
- B cells primed with nCII or OVA demonstrated a 2-3 fold increase in T-cell hybridoma activation compared to naive B cells.
- Priming with dCII did not enhance B cell APC function.
Conclusions:
- Antigen-primed B cells can process and present CII to primed T cells.
- Antigen-primed B cells are more efficient APCs than naive B cells.
- B cells possess the potential to play a significant role as APCs in the development of CIA.