|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
J. Exp. Med.,
Volume 187, Number 10, May 18, 1998 1611-1621
By
From the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305; and Medical Genome Center and Australian Cancer
Research Foundation Genetics Laboratory, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra
ACT 2601, Australia
Antigen-specific B cells are implicated as antigen-presenting cells in memory and tolerance responses because they capture antigens efficiently and localize to T cell zones after antigen capture. It has not been possible, however, to visualize the effect of specific B cells on specific
CD4+ helper T cells under physiological conditions. We demonstrate here that rare T cells are
activated in vivo by minute quantities of antigen captured by antigen-specific B cells. Antigen-activated B cells are helped under these conditions, whereas antigen-tolerant B cells are killed.
The T cells proliferate and then disappear regardless of whether the B cells are activated or tolerant. We show genetically that T cell activation, proliferation, and disappearance can be mediated either by transfer of antigen from antigen-specific B cells to endogenous antigen-presenting cells or by direct B-T cell interactions. These results identify a novel antigen presentation route, and demonstrate that B cell presentation of antigen has profound effects on T cell fate
that could not be predicted from in vitro studies.
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
