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Experimental sepsis impairs humoral memory in mice
Christian Pötschke1, Wolfram Kessler, Stefan Maier
1Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Plos One
|December 7, 2013
Summary
Sepsis impairs long-term humoral immunity by hindering the development of antigen-specific plasma cells, weakening the body's ability to remember and fight infections.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Sepsis often leads to immune suppression in patients and mouse models.
- Acute sepsis involves B cell activation and increased antibody levels, but its impact on long-term humoral memory is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of experimental sepsis on established immunological memory against a specific antigen.
- To determine if sepsis impedes the development of long-lived antibody-secreting plasma cells.
Main Methods:
- Mice were immunized twice with ovalbumin, followed 8 weeks later by the induction of experimental sepsis (colon ascendens stent peritonitis).
- Antigen-specific antibody concentrations and bone marrow plasma cell counts were measured 4 weeks after sepsis induction.
Main Results:
- In non-septic mice, antigen-specific bone marrow plasma cells doubled 8 weeks after secondary immunization.
- In contrast, sepsis prevented this increase in antigen-specific bone marrow plasma cells.
- Sepsis also led to a reduction in antigen-specific serum antibody levels.
Conclusions:
- Experimental sepsis significantly weakens long-term humoral memory.
- This weakening occurs by disrupting the development and maintenance of the antigen-specific plasma cell pool.
- Humoral immune memory development may not be fully established 8 weeks post-secondary immunization, making it vulnerable to sepsis.
