BAFF mediates splenic B cell response and antibody production in experimental chagas disease

Background: b cells and antibodies are involved not only in controlling the spread of blood circulating trypanosoma cruzi,but also in the autoreactive manifestations observed in chagas disease. acute infection results in polyclonal b cell activation associated with hypergammaglobulinemia,delayed specific humoral immunity and high levels of non-parasite specific antibodies. since tnf superfamily b lymphocyte stimulator (baff) mediates polyclonal b cell response in vitro triggered by t. cruzi antigens,and baff-tg mice show similar signs to t. cruzi infected mice,we hypothesized that baff can mediate polyclonal b cell response in experimental chagas disease. methodology/principal findings: baff is produced early and persists throughout the infection. to analyze baff role in experimental chagas disease,balb/c infected mice were injected with br3:fc,a soluble receptor of baff,to block baff activity. by baff blockade we observed that this cytokine mediates the mature b cell response and the production of nonparasite specific igm and igg. baff also influences the development of antinuclear igg and parasite-specific igm response,not affecting t. cruzi-specific igg and parasitemia. interestingly,baff inhibition favors the parasitism in heart. conclusions/significance: our results demonstrate,for the first time,an active role for baff in shaping the mature b cell repertoire in a parasite infection. copyright: © 2010 bermejo et al.