Soluble CD40 ligand can replace the normal T cell-derived CD40 ligand signal to B cells in T cell-dependent activation

Lane, P. and Brocker, Thomas and Hubele, S. and Padovan, E. and Lanzavecchia, A. and McConnell, F. (1993): Soluble CD40 ligand can replace the normal T cell-derived CD40 ligand signal to B cells in T cell-dependent activation. In: Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol. 177, No. 4: pp. 1209-1213

Abstract

We have constructed a soluble chimeric fusion protein between the mouse CD8 alpha chain and the mouse CD40 T cell ligand. This protein binds to both human and mouse B cells. By itself it induced a modest degree of B cell proliferation, but together with anti-immunoglobulin (anti-Ig) antibody it greatly stimulated B cell proliferation, as determined by both [3H]thymidine uptake and increase in cell numbers. These data are evidence that the CD40 ligand on T cells provides a signal that drives B cell proliferation. This signal is synergistic with that delivered by anti-Ig antibody.

• Item Type: Article
• Collections: Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health