Role of Dendritic Cells in the Immune Response Induced by Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus Superantigen

After mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) infection, B lymphocytes present a superantigen (Sag) and receive help from the unlimited number of CD4(+) T cells expressing Sag-specific T-cell receptor Vβ elements. The infected B cells divide and differentiate, similarly to what occurs in classical B-cell responses. The amplification of Sag-reactive T cells can be considered a primary immune response. Since B cells are usually not efficient in the activation of naive T cells, we addressed the question of whether professional antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells (DCs) are responsible for T-cell priming. We show here, using MMTV(SIM), a viral isolate which requires major histocompatibility complex class II I-E expression to induce a strong Sag response in vivo, that transgenic mice expressing I-E exclusively on DCs (I-EαDC tg) reveal a strong Sag response. This Sag response was dependent on the presence of B cells, as indicated by the absence of stimulation in I-EαDC tg mice lacking B cells (I-EαDC tg μMT(−/−)), even if these B cells lack I-E expression. Furthermore, the involvement of either residual transgene expression by B cells or transfer of I-E from DCs to B cells was excluded by the use of mixed bone marrow chimeras. Our results indicate that after priming by DCs in the context of I-E, the MMTV(SIM) Sag can be recognized on the surface of B cells in the context of I-A. The most likely physiological relevance of the lowering of the antigen threshold required for T-cell/B-cell collaboration after DC priming is to allow B cells with a low affinity for antigen to receive T-cell help in a primary immune response.