A single helper T cell clone is sufficient to commit polyclonal naive B cells to produce pathogenic IgG in experimental pemphigus vulgaris

H Takahashi, M Kuwana, M Amagai - The Journal of Immunology, 2009 - journals.aai.org
H Takahashi, M Kuwana, M Amagai
The Journal of Immunology, 2009journals.aai.org
The development of naive B cells into IgG-producing memory B cells requires cognate T cell-
B cell interaction in Ag-specific immune responses. It is unknown whether a single T cell
clone is sufficient or whether multiple clones are necessary to induce polyclonal IgG
production in vivo. We addressed this issue using a mouse model of pemphigus vulgaris, a
fatal autoimmune blistering skin disease caused by IgG autoantibodies against desmoglein
(Dsg) 3. We previously isolated several Dsg3-reactive T cell clones from Dsg3−/− mice …
Abstract
The development of naive B cells into IgG-producing memory B cells requires cognate T cell-B cell interaction in Ag-specific immune responses. It is unknown whether a single T cell clone is sufficient or whether multiple clones are necessary to induce polyclonal IgG production in vivo. We addressed this issue using a mouse model of pemphigus vulgaris, a fatal autoimmune blistering skin disease caused by IgG autoantibodies against desmoglein (Dsg) 3. We previously isolated several Dsg3-reactive T cell clones from Dsg3−/− mice. Among these, two pathogenic T cell clones induced anti-Dsg3 IgG production and the development of a pemphigus phenotype when adoptively transferred with unprimed B cells from Dsg3−/− mice. IgG Abs harvested from recipient mice reacted with at least three parts of the extracellular domain of Dsg3, as determined using domain-swapped Dsg3/Dsg1 molecules. The anti-Dsg3 IgGs included at least two subclasses among IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 in each mouse. The anti-Dsg3 IgG induced by Dsg3-reactive T cell clones with primed B cells from Dsg3−/− mice also showed reactivity against different parts of the molecule, with a similar epitope distribution. Together, these results indicate that a single potent Dsg3-reactive T cell is sufficient to commit polyclonal naive B cells to produce pathogenic anti-Dsg3 IgG Abs and induce the PV phenotype. These findings provide an important framework for examining immunological mechanisms in Ab-mediated autoimmune diseases.
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