MyD88 is required for the formation of long-term humoral immunity to virus infection

J Immunol. 2007 Apr 15;178(8):5124-31. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.178.8.5124.

Abstract

Development of long-term humoral immunity is a major goal of vaccination, but the mechanisms involved in the formation of long-term Ab responses are still being determined. In this study, we identify a previously unknown requirement for MyD88, an adaptor molecule that mediates signals at most TLRs, for the generation of long-term humoral immunity during live virus infection. Polyoma virus-infected MyD88 knockout mice generated strong acute T cell-dependent antiviral IgM and IgG responses and developed germinal centers. Activation-induced cytidine deaminase, an enzyme required for isotype switching and somatic hypermutation, was also induced in germinal center B cells, similar to wild-type mice. However, MyD88 knockout mice failed to develop bone marrow plasma cells and did not maintain long-term serum antiviral Ab responses. The isotype distribution of antiviral IgG responses was also altered; serum IgG2a and IgG2b levels were diminished, whereas IgG1 responses were not affected. The requirement for MyD88 for the formation of long-term humoral immunity to polyoma virus was intrinsic to B cells and was independent of IL-1R and IL-18R, cytokine receptors that also signal through MyD88. Our findings show that MyD88-dependent signaling pathways in B cells are essential for effectively generating long-term Ab responses and implicate a role for TLR in the formation of long-term humoral immunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / physiology*
  • Polyomavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1 / physiology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-18 / physiology
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptors / physiology
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Myd88 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1
  • Receptors, Interleukin-18
  • Toll-Like Receptors