Plasmodium-specific atypical memory B cells are short-lived activated B cells

D Perez-Mazliah, PJ Gardner, E Schweighoffer… - Elife, 2018 - elifesciences.org
D Perez-Mazliah, PJ Gardner, E Schweighoffer, S McLaughlin, C Hosking, I Tumwine…
Elife, 2018elifesciences.org
A subset of atypical memory B cells accumulates in malaria and several infections,
autoimmune disorders and aging in both humans and mice. It has been suggested these
cells are exhausted long-lived memory B cells, and their accumulation may contribute to
poor acquisition of long-lasting immunity to certain chronic infections, such as malaria and
HIV. Here, we generated an immunoglobulin heavy chain knock-in mouse with a BCR that
recognizes MSP1 of the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium chabaudi. In combination with …
A subset of atypical memory B cells accumulates in malaria and several infections, autoimmune disorders and aging in both humans and mice. It has been suggested these cells are exhausted long-lived memory B cells, and their accumulation may contribute to poor acquisition of long-lasting immunity to certain chronic infections, such as malaria and HIV. Here, we generated an immunoglobulin heavy chain knock-in mouse with a BCR that recognizes MSP1 of the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium chabaudi. In combination with a mosquito-initiated P. chabaudi infection, we show that Plasmodium-specific atypical memory B cells are short-lived and disappear upon natural resolution of chronic infection. These cells show features of activation, proliferation, DNA replication, and plasmablasts. Our data demonstrate that Plasmodium-specific atypical memory B cells are not a subset of long-lived memory B cells, but rather short-lived activated cells, and part of a physiologic ongoing B-cell response.
eLife