Severe attenuation of the B cell immune response in Msh2-deficient mice

Recently, results obtained from mice with targeted inactivations of postrep lication DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes have been interpreted to demonstra te a direct role for MMR in antibody variable (V) gene hypermutation. Here we show that mice that do not express the MMR factor Msh2 have wide-ranging defects in antigen-driven B cell responses. These include lack of progress ion of the germinal center (GC) reaction associated with increased intra-GC apoptosis, severely diminished antigen-specific immunoglobulin G responses , and near absence of anamnestic responses. Mice heterozygous for the Msh2 deficiency display an "intermediate" phenotype in these regards, suggesting that normal levels of Msh2 expression are critical for the B cell response . Interpretation of the impact of an MMR deficiency on the mechanism of V g ene somatic hypermutation could be easily confounded by these perturbations .