Suppressive effect of bacterial polysaccharides on BAFF system is responsible for their poor immunogenicity

Capsular polysaccharides of encapsulated bacteria are weakly immunogenic T cell-independent type 2 (TI-2) Ags. Recent findings suggest that BAFF system molecules have a critical role in the development of Ab responses against TI-2 Ags. In this study, we investigated the effect of bacterial polysaccharides on B cell responses to BAFF and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL). We determined that B cells exposed to meningococcal type C polysaccharide (MCPS) or group B Streptococcus serotype V (GBS-V) were unresponsive to BAFF- and APRIL-induced Ig secretion. Moreover, MCPS and GBS-V strongly downregulated transmembrane activator and calcium-modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor, the BAFF and APRIL receptor that is responsible for Ab development against TI-2 Ags. Interestingly, (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl-Ficoll (NP-Ficoll), a prototype TI-2 Ag, did not manifest a suppressive effect on B cells. Paradoxically, whereas GBS-V and MCPS inhibited IFN-γ-induced BAFF production from dendritic cells, NP-Ficoll strongly increased BAFF secretion. TLR 9 agonist CpG deoxyoligonucleotide (ODN) was able to reverse the MCPS-mediated transmembrane activator and calcium-modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor suppression but could not rescue the Ig secretion in BAFF- or APRIL-stimulated B cells. In support of these in vitro observations, it was observed that CpG ODN could help augment the Ab response against NP in mice immunized with a CpG ODN-containing NP-Ficoll vaccine but exhibited only marginal adjuvant activity for MCPS vaccine. Collectively, these results suggest a mechanism for the weak immunogenicity of bacterial polysaccharides and explain the previously observed differences between bacterial polysaccharide and NP-Ficoll immunogenicity.