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Published on: May 7, 2012
CpG oligodeoxynucleotides stimulate cord blood mononuclear cells to produce immunoglobulins
Cheri D Landers1, Subbarao Bondada
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care, 800 Rose Street, Room MN478, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA. cdland2@uky.edu
Insights
CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) stimulate neonatal B cells to produce IgM, similar to adults. However, cord blood cells show reduced IgG and no IgA production, suggesting potential as neonatal vaccine adjuvants for polysaccharide antigens.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neonatal Immunity
Background:
- CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) are known to stimulate adult B cell proliferation and immunoglobulin production.
- Neonatal immune responses are generally immature and less responsive to certain antigens, like thymus-independent polysaccharides.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the response of neonatal human B cells to CpG-ODNs.
- To compare the immunoglobulin production of neonatal B cells stimulated with CpG-ODNs to that of adult B cells.
Main Methods:
- Umbilical cord blood cells and adult peripheral blood B cells were isolated.
- Cells were stimulated with CpG-ODNs.
- Immunoglobulin (IgM, IgG, IgA) production was measured using ELISA.
Main Results:
- Both adult and umbilical cord B cells produced comparable amounts of IgM in response to CpG-ODN stimulation.
- CpG-ODN stimulated IgG and IgA production in adult B cells, but cord blood cells produced significantly less IgG and no detectable IgA.
- CpG-ODN induced IgM production in adult CD27-negative B cells, potentially explaining the response in naive cord B cells.
Conclusions:
- CpG-ODNs can stimulate IgM production in neonatal human B cells, including responses to pneumococcal polysaccharide antigens.
- The differential production of IgG and IgA suggests limitations in neonatal B cell responses to CpG-ODN stimulation.
- CpG-ODNs show promise as neonatal vaccine adjuvants for polysaccharide antigens that are typically poorly immunogenic in infants.
Abstract:
CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) stimulate adult B cells leading to cellular proliferation and immunoglobulin production. It is unknown if CpG-ODNs similarly stimulate neonatal human B cells. Neonates have immature immune responses and are poorly responsive to thymus independent antigens such as polysaccharides. We determined umbilical cord cells' response to CpG-ODNs. Adult and umbilical cord B cells produced similar amounts of IgM (adult 1371 +/- 352 vs. cord 1873 +/- 1084 ng/ml) in response to CpG-ODN stimulation. Although CpG-ODN was able to stimulate adult IgG and IgA production, cord cells produced less IgG (153 +/- 58 vs. 10 +/- 2.5 ng/ml) and no detectable IgA upon CpG-ODN stimulation. CpG ODN stimulated IgM production from adult CD27-negative B cells which may account for their ability to stimulate the mostly naïve cord B cells. The polyclonal IgM response included pneumococcal polysaccharide antigen-specific antibodies. CpG-ODNs may be useful as neonatal vaccine adjuvants for polysaccharide antigens that are otherwise non-immunogenic.
