CD36 is differentially expressed on B cell subsets during development and in responses to antigen.

Journal article

Of a number of mAbs made by immunization with sort-purified marginal zone (MZ) B cells, one was shown to recognize the mouse scavenger receptor CD36. Although CD36 is expressed by most resting MZ B cells and not by follicular and B1 B cells, it is rapidly induced on follicular B cells in vitro following TLR and CD40 stimulation. In response to T-independent and T-dependent Ag challenge, we found that CD36 was expressed on IgM+ plasma cells, but down-regulated on isotype-switched plasma cells in vivo. Although development, localization, and phenotype of MZ B cells in CD36-/- mice appeared normal, there was a minor block in the transitional stages of mature B cell development. In both primary and secondary Ab responses to heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae (R36A strain), both phosphoryl choline (PC)-specific IgM and IgG levels in CD36-/- mice were slightly reduced compared with wild-type mice. In addition, mice deficient in both TLR2 and CD36 produced significantly reduced levels of anti-PC IgG titers than those of single gene-deficient mice, suggesting that they may cooperate in an anti-PC Ab response. Collectively, these results show that CD36 does not affect the development of B cells, but modulates both primary and secondary anti-PC Ab responses during S. pneumoniae infection similarly to TLR2.

Authors: Won, W; Bachmann, M; Kearney, J

• Journal: Journal of Immunology
• Volume: 180
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 230-237
• Publication date: 2008-01-01
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.180.1.230
• EISSN: 1550-6606
• ISSN: 0022-1767
• Language: English
• Keywords: Toll-Like Receptor 2; Immunoglobulin G; B-Lymphocyte Subsets; Plasma Cells; Antigens, CD36; Mice, Mutant Strains; Antibodies, Bacterial; Animals; Mice; Antigens, T-Independent; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Lymphocyte Activation