-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
Tom Slocombe, Sheila Brown, Katherine Miles, Mohini Gray, Tom A Barr, David Gray, Plasma Cell Homeostasis: The Effects of Chronic Antigen Stimulation and Inflammation, The Journal of Immunology, Volume 191, Issue 6, September 2013, Pages 3128–3138, https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.1301163
- Share Icon Share
Abstract
Long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) that maintain humoral immunity to previously encountered Ags occupy a compartment in the bone marrow (BM). The rules and mechanisms by which cells enter (and leave) this compartment are poorly understood. We looked at what happens to the LLPC compartment and to plasma cell lifespan in general, in situations in which Ag stimulation and/or inflammation persist. We find that chronic Ag supply causes the generation of short-lived plasma cells in the local lymphoid organ, at the expense of any LLPC production. Furthermore, we find that inflammation caused by infection (mediated via TNF-α) causes a dramatic mobilization of LLPCs from the BM, with a concomitant reduction in circulating Ab levels against previously immunized Ags. These data are discussed in the context of the capacity of the BM LLPC compartment and competition for entry to it.