Critical role for mouse marginal zone B cells in PF4/heparin antibody production

Y Zheng, M Yu, A Podd, L Yuan… - Blood, The Journal …, 2013 - ashpublications.org
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2013ashpublications.org
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune-mediated disorder that can cause
fatal arterial or venous thrombosis/thromboembolism. Immune complexes consisting of
platelet factor 4 (PF4), heparin, and PF4/heparin-reactive antibodies are central to the
pathogenesis of HIT. However, the B-cell origin of HIT antibody production is not known.
Here, we show that anti-PF4/heparin antibodies are readily generated in wild-type mice on
challenge with PF4/heparin complexes, and that antibody production is severely impaired in …
Abstract
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune-mediated disorder that can cause fatal arterial or venous thrombosis/thromboembolism. Immune complexes consisting of platelet factor 4 (PF4), heparin, and PF4/heparin-reactive antibodies are central to the pathogenesis of HIT. However, the B-cell origin of HIT antibody production is not known. Here, we show that anti-PF4/heparin antibodies are readily generated in wild-type mice on challenge with PF4/heparin complexes, and that antibody production is severely impaired in B-cell–specific Notch2-deficient mice that lack marginal zone (MZ) B cells. As expected, Notch2-deficient mice responded normally to challenge with T-cell–dependent antigen nitrophenyl-chicken γ globulin but not to the T-cell–independent antigen trinitrophenyl-Ficoll. In addition, wild-type, but not Notch2-deficient, B cells plus B-cell–depleted wild-type splenocytes adoptively transferred into B-cell–deficient μMT mice responded to PF4/heparin complex challenge. PF4/heparin-specific antibodies produced by wild-type mice were IgG2b and IgG3 isotypes. An in vitro class-switching assay showed that MZ B cells were capable of producing antibodies of IgG2b and IgG3 isotypes. Lastly, MZ, but not follicular, B cells adoptively transferred into B-cell–deficient μMT mice responded to PF4/heparin complex challenge by producing PF4/heparin-specific antibodies of IgG2b and IgG3 isotypes. Taken together, these data demonstrate that MZ B cells are critical for PF4/heparin-specific antibody production.
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