Successful priming and tolerization of T cells to orally administered antigens in B-cell-deficient mice

B cells have been shown to function as APCs capable of inducing both T cell priming and tolerization, Recently, B cells were also revealed to be essen tial in the organogenesis of Payer's patches (PPs), which have been suppose d to play an important role in the initiation of mucosal immune responses. In this study, we examined the roles of B cells in T cell response to orall y administrated antigen using B-cell-deficient mice. It was revealed that ( 1) both a single high dose and repeated low doses of orally administered OV A successfully induced tolerance of T cells in B-cell-deficient mice and (2 ) oral administration of OVA with cholera toxin successfully primed T cells in B-cell-deficient mice. Thus, it was revealed that B cells are not requi red for both priming and tolerization of T cells to orally administered ant igens, These results also contradict the supposed roles of PPs in mucosal i mmune responses. (C) 2001 Academic Press.