Abstract
Maternal antibodies (MatAbs) protect offspring from infections but limit their responses to vaccination. The mechanisms of this inhibition are still debated. Using murine early-life immunization models mimicking the condition prevailing in humans, we observed the induction of CD4-T, T follicular helper, and germinal center (GC) B cell responses even when early-life antibody responses were abrogated by MatAbs. GC B cells induced in the presence of MatAbs form GC structures and exhibit canonical GC changes in gene expression but fail to differentiate into plasma cells and/or memory B cells in a MatAb titer-dependent manner. Furthermore, GC B cells elicited in the presence or absence of MatAbs use different VH and Vk genes and show differences in genes associated with B cell differentiation and isotype switching. Thus, MatAbs do not prevent B cell activation but control the output of the GC reaction both quantitatively and qualitatively, shaping the antigen-specific B cell repertoire.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Cell Reports |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 7 |
Pages (from-to) | 1773-1784.e5 |
ISSN | 2211-1247 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 13 Aug 2019 |
Keywords
- epitope masking
- germinal centers
- immunization
- maternal antibodies
- neonates
- repertoire