TLR signaling fine-tunes anti-influenza B cell responses without regulating effector T cell responses

AK Heer, A Shamshiev, A Donda… - The journal of …, 2007 - journals.aai.org
AK Heer, A Shamshiev, A Donda, S Uematsu, S Akira, M Kopf, BJ Marsland
The journal of immunology, 2007journals.aai.org
Influenza is a ssRNA virus that has been responsible for widespread morbidity and mortality;
however, the innate immunological mechanisms that drive the adaptive anti-influenza
immune response in vivo are yet to be fully elucidated. TLRs are pattern recognition
receptors that bind evolutionarily conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns,
induce dendritic cell maturation, and consequently aid the development of effective immune
responses. We have examined the role of TLRs in driving effective T and B cell responses …
Abstract
Influenza is a ssRNA virus that has been responsible for widespread morbidity and mortality; however, the innate immunological mechanisms that drive the adaptive anti-influenza immune response in vivo are yet to be fully elucidated. TLRs are pattern recognition receptors that bind evolutionarily conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns, induce dendritic cell maturation, and consequently aid the development of effective immune responses. We have examined the role of TLRs in driving effective T and B cell responses against influenza virus. We found TLR3 and its associated adapter molecule, Toll/IL-R domain-containing adaptor-inducing IFN-β, did not play a role in the development of CD4+ or CD8+ T cell responses against influenza virus, nor did they influence influenza-specific B cell responses. Surprisingly, TLR7 and MyD88 also played negligible roles in T cell activation and effector function upon infection with influenza virus; however, their signaling was critical for regulating anti-influenza B cell Ab isotype switching. The induction of appropriate anti-influenza humoral responses involved stimulation of TLRs on B cells directly and TLR-induced production of IFN-α, which acted to reduce IgG1 and increase IgG2a/c class switching. Notably, direct TLR signaling on B cells or T cell help through the CD40-CD40L interaction was sufficient to support B cell proliferation and IgG1 production, whereas IFN-α was critical for fine-tuning the nature of the isotype switch. Taken together, these data reveal that TLR signaling is not required for anti-influenza T cell responses, but through both direct and indirect means orchestrates appropriate anti-influenza B cell responses.
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