Invariant natural killer T cells direct B cell responses to cognate lipid antigen in an IL-21-dependent manner

Irah L. King, Anne Fortier, Michael Tighe, John Dibble, Gerald F.M. Watts, Natacha Veerapen, Ann M. Haberman, Gurdyal S. Besra, Markus Mohrs, Michael B. Brenner, Elizabeth A. Leadbetter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

190 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mouse invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT cells) provide cognate and noncognate help for lipid and protein-specific B cells, respectively. However, the long-term outcome for B cells after cognate help is provided by iNKT cells is unknown at present. Here we found that cognate iNKT cell help resulted in a B cell differentiation program characterized by extrafollicular plasmablasts, germinal-center formation, affinity maturation and a robust primary immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody response that was uniquely dependent on iNKT cell-derived interleukin 21 (IL-21). However, cognate help from iNKT cells did not generate an enhanced humoral memory response. Thus, cognate iNKT cell help for lipid-specific B cells induces a unique signature that is a hybrid of classic T cell-dependent and T cell-independent type 2 B cell responses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)44-50
Number of pages7
JournalNature Immunology
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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