Low-affinity B cells transport viral particles from the lung to the spleen to initiate antibody responses.

Journal article

The lung is an important entry site for pathogens; its exposure to antigens results in systemic as well as local IgA and IgG antibodies. Here we show that intranasal administration of virus-like particles (VLPs) results in splenic B-cell responses with strong local germinal-center formation. Surprisingly, VLPs were not transported from the lung to the spleen in a free form but by B cells. The interaction between VLPs and B cells was initiated in the lung and occurred independently of complement receptor 2 and Fcγ receptors, but was dependent upon B-cell receptors. Thus, B cells passing through the lungs bind VLPs via their B-cell receptors and deliver them to local B cells within the splenic B-cell follicle. This process is fundamentally different from delivery of blood or lymph borne particulate antigens, which are transported into B cell follicles by binding to complement receptors on B cells.

Authors: Bessa, J; Zabel, F; Link, A; Jegerlehner, A; Hinton, H

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
• Volume: 109
• Issue: 50
• Pages: 20566-20571
• Publication date: 2012-12-01
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1206970109
• EISSN: 1091-6490
• ISSN: 0027-8424
• Language: English
• Keywords: Spleen; Antigens, Viral; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Immunoglobulin G; Receptors, Complement 3d; Female; B-Lymphocytes; Receptors, IgG; Adoptive Transfer; Mice; Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle; Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; Animals; Cell Movement; Antibodies, Viral; Lung; Administration, Intranasal