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Functional Memory B Cells and Long-Lived Plasma Cells Are Generated after a Single Plasmodium chabaudi Infection in Mice.
- Source :
- PLoS Pathogens; Dec2009, Vol. 5 Issue 12, p1-15, 15p, 7 Graphs
- Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Antibodies have long been shown to play a critical role in naturally acquired immunity to malaria, but it has been suggested that Plasmodium-specific antibodies in humans may not be long lived. The cellular mechanisms underlying B cell and antibody responses are difficult to study in human infections; therefore, we have investigated the kinetics, duration and characteristics of the Plasmodium-specific memory B cell response in an infection of P. chabaudi in mice. Memory B cells and plasma cells specific for the C-terminal region of Merozoite Surface Protein 1 were detectable for more than eight months following primary infection. Furthermore, a classical memory response comprised predominantly of the T-cell dependent isotypes IgG2c, IgG2b and IgG1 was elicited upon rechallenge with the homologous parasite, confirming the generation of functional memory B cells. Using cyclophosphamide treatment to discriminate between long-lived and short-lived plasma cells, we demonstrated long-lived cells secreting Plasmodium-specific IgG in both bone marrow and in spleens of infected mice. The presence of these long-lived cells was independent of the presence of chronic infection, as removal of parasites with anti-malarial drugs had no impact on their numbers. Thus, in this model of malaria, both functional Plasmodiumspecific memory B cells and long-lived plasma cells can be generated, suggesting that defects in generating these cell populations may not be the reason for generating short-lived antibody responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15537366
- Volume :
- 5
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- PLoS Pathogens
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 47256266
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1000690