Md. Mckisic et Sw. Barthold, T-Cell-independent responses to Borrelia burgdorferi are critical for protective immunity and resolution of lyme disease, INFEC IMMUN, 68(9), 2000, pp. 5190-5197
The humoral immune response to Borrelia burgdorferi during persistent infec
tion is critical to both protective and disease-resolving immunity. This st
udy examined the role of B cells in the absence of T cells during these eve
nts, using mice with selected immune dysfunctions. At 6 weeks postinfection
,lan interval at which arthritis resolves in immunocompetent mice, arthriti
s severity was equivalent among immunocompetent mice, alpha beta(+)-T-cell-
deficient mice, and mice lacking both alpha beta(+) and gamma delta(+) T ce
lls. Arthritis severity was worse in SCID mice, which lack T and B lymphocy
tes. Carditis regressed in immunocompetent mice and those lacking both alph
a beta(+) and gamma delta(+) T cells but remained active in mice lacking on
ly alpha beta(+) T cells and in SCID mice, Mice lacking only alpha beta(+)
T cells and those lacking both alpha beta(+) and gamma delta(+) T cells gen
erated immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG3 B. burgdorferi-reactive antibodies.
Sera from infected immunocompetent mice, mice lacking only alpha beta(+) T
cells, and mice lacking both alpha beta(+) and gamma delta(+) T cells passi
vely protected naive mice against challenge inoculation with B. burgdorferi
. However, only sera from infected immunocompetent mice, but not sera from
infected T-cell-deficient mice, were able to resolve arthritis when passive
ly transferred to actively infected SCID mice. These data demonstrate that
B-cell activation during a T-cell-independent response may be critical for
resolution of arthritis and carditis and that protective antibodies are gen
erated during this response.