Enhanced antibody responses in CD19-Cre mice

Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 8;15(1):1348. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-83954-8.

Abstract

CD19-Cre is an important and widely used Cre-lox model for B cell-specific genetic manipulation in murine systems. Mice carrying one allele of CD19-Cre are, at the same time, rendered heterozygote for CD19, a crucial coreceptor of the B cell antigen receptor (BCR). As a result, CD19-Cre mice exhibit diminished expression levels of CD19, with potential, yet insufficiently examined, consequences in B cell activation. Here, we report significantly heightened antibody responses upon both T-dependent (NP-KLH) and T-independent (NP-Ficoll) immunizations as well as elevated levels of basal IgM immunoglobulin levels in CD19-Cre mice. In vitro, we observed enhanced class-switch recombination and a moderate reduction in B cell proliferation upon LPS and IFNγ stimulation, yet no drastic differences in BCR signalling. Our findings warrant careful consideration in the use of CD19-Cre mouse model in B cell research.

Keywords: Antibody response; B cells; BCR; CD19; Class-switch recombination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / immunology
  • Antigens, CD19* / immunology
  • Antigens, CD19* / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes* / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes* / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Integrases* / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD19
  • Integrases
  • Cre recombinase
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • CD19 antigen, mouse
  • Immunoglobulin M