1. The T cell-dependent B cell immune response and germinal center reaction are intact in A-myb-deficient mice.
- Author
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Vora KA, Lentz VM, Monsell W, Rao SP, Mettus R, Toscani A, Reddy EP, and Manser T
- Subjects
- Animals, Antibodies blood, Antibody Formation genetics, B-Lymphocytes metabolism, B-Lymphocytes pathology, Cell Differentiation genetics, Cell Differentiation immunology, Chickens, Female, Germinal Center metabolism, Germinal Center pathology, Immunoglobulin Class Switching genetics, Injections, Intraperitoneal, Lymphocyte Activation genetics, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb, Spleen abnormalities, Spleen growth & development, Spleen immunology, T-Lymphocytes metabolism, gamma-Globulins administration & dosage, gamma-Globulins immunology, Avian Proteins, B-Lymphocytes immunology, Germinal Center immunology, Proto-Oncogene Proteins deficiency, Proto-Oncogene Proteins genetics, T-Lymphocytes immunology, Trans-Activators deficiency, Trans-Activators genetics
- Abstract
Expression of the protooncogene A-myb is restricted to the developing CNS, adult testes, breasts in late pregnancy, and germinal centers of secondary B cell follicles. The functional relevance of A-myb expression at three of these sites has been demonstrated previously via the generation and analysis of A-myb-deficient mice, which display behavioral abnormalities, male sterility, and perturbed breast development during pregnancy. In contrast, here we show that the germinal center response driven by T cell-dependent Ag immunization and the associated processes of Ab V gene somatic hypermutation, affinity maturation, and heavy chain class switching are overtly normal in A-myb-deficient mice. Nonetheless, these mice display mild splenic white pulp hypoplasia and blunted primary serum Ab responses, suggesting that although A-myb is not directly involved in the regulation of the memory B cell response, it may play a role in enhancing peripheral B cell survival or proliferative capacity.
- Published
- 2001
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