Abstract
Production of antibodies can last for a lifetime, through mechanisms that remain poorly understood. Here, we show that human memory B lymphocytes proliferate and differentiate into plasma cells in response to polyclonal stimuli, such as bystander T cell help and CpG DNA. Furthermore, plasma cells secreting antibodies to recall antigens are produced in vivo at levels proportional to the frequency of specific memory B cells, even several years after antigenic stimulation. Although antigen boosting leads to a transient increase in specific antibody levels, ongoing polyclonal activation of memory B cells offers a means to maintain serological memory for a human lifetime.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Antibodies / blood
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Antibody Formation
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Antigens, CD / metabolism
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B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Division
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Cells, Cultured
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Dinucleoside Phosphates / immunology
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Humans
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Immunization
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Immunization, Secondary
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Immunoglobulin Class Switching
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Immunoglobulin G / immunology
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Immunoglobulin M / immunology
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Immunoglobulins / blood
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Immunoglobulins / immunology
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Immunologic Memory*
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Interleukin-15 / immunology
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Lymphocyte Activation*
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Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / immunology
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Plasma Cells / immunology*
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T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
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Tetanus Toxoid / immunology
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Time Factors
Substances
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Antibodies
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Antigens, CD
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Dinucleoside Phosphates
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Immunoglobulin G
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Immunoglobulin M
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Immunoglobulins
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Interleukin-15
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Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
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Tetanus Toxoid
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cytidylyl-3'-5'-guanosine