SAP expression in invariant NKT cells is required for cognate help to support B-cell responses

Cynthia Detre, Marton Keszei, Natividad Garrido-Mesa, Katalin Kis-Toth, Wilson Castro, Amma F. Agyemang, Natacha Veerapen, Gurdyal S. Besra, Michael C. Carroll, George C. Tsokos, Ninghai Wang, Elizabeth A. Leadbetter, Cox Terhorst

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

One of the manifestations of X-linked lymphoproliferative disease (XLP) is progressive agammaglobulinemia, caused by the absence of a functional signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) - associated protein (SAP) in T, invariant natural killer T (NKT) cells andNKcells. Here we report that α-galactosylceramide (αGalCer) activated NKT cells positively regulate antibody responses to haptenated protein antigens at multiple checkpoints, including germinal center formation and affinity maturation. Whereas NKT cell-dependent B cell responses were absent in SAP-/-.B6 mice that completely lack NKTcells, the smallnumberof SAP-deficient NKT cells in SAP-/-.BALB/c mice adjuvated antibody production, but not the germinal center reaction. To test the hypothesis that SAP-deficient NKT cells can facilitate humoral immunity, SAP was deleted after development in SAP fl/fl.tgCreERT2.B6 mice. We find that NKT cell intrinsic expression of SAP is dispensable for noncognate helper functions, but is critical for providing cognate help to antigen-specific B cells. These results demonstrate that SLAM-family receptor-regulated cell-cell interactions are not limited to T-B cell conjugates. We conclude that in the absence of SAP, several routes of NKT cell- mediated antibody production are still accessible. The latter suggests that residual NKT cells in XLP patients might contribute to variations in dysgammaglobulinemia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)122-129
Number of pages8
JournalBlood
Volume120
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 5 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

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