Early neutralizing antibody response against mouse mammary tumor virus: critical role of viral infection and superantigen-reactive T cells

J Immunol. 1997 Sep 15;159(6):2807-14.

Abstract

Infectious mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is a retrovirus that expresses a superantigen shortly after infection of B cells. The superantigen first drives the polyclonal activation and proliferation of superantigen-reactive CD4+ T cells, which then induce the infected B cells to proliferate and differentiate. Part of the MMTV-induced B cell response leads to the production of Abs that are specific for the viral envelope protein gp52. Here we show that this Ab response has virus-neutralizing activity and confers protection against superinfection by other MMTV strains in vivo as soon as 4 to 7 days after infection. A protective Ab titer is maintained lifelong. Viral infection as well as the superantigen-induced T-B collaboration are required to generate this rapid and long lasting neutralizing Ab response. Polyclonal or superantigen-independent B cell activation, on the contrary, does not lead to detectable virus neutralization. The early onset of this superantigen-dependent neutralizing response suggests that viral envelope-specific B cells are selectively recruited to form part of the extrafollicular B cell response and are subsequently amplified and maintained by superantigen-reactive Th cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Immunity
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Retroviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Superantigens / immunology*
  • Tumor Virus Infections / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Superantigens