Abstract
Conventional models suggest that long-term antibody responses are maintained by the continuous differentiation of memory B cells into antibody- secreting plasma cells. This is based on the notion that plasma cells are short-lived and need to be continually replenished by memory B cells. We examined the issue of plasma cell longevity by following the persistence of LCMV-specific antibody and plasma cell numbers after in vivo depletion of memory B cells and by adoptive transfer of virus-specific plasma cells into naive mice. The results show that a substantial fraction of plasma cells can survive and continue to secrete antibody for extended periods of time (>1 year) in the absence of any detectable memory B cells. This study documents the existence of long-lived plasma cells and demonstrates a new mechanism by which humoral immunity is maintained.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 363-372 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Immunity |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1998 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases