The signals and events required for maintaining serum antibodies to foreign and self- antigens remain poorly defined. The main goals of this application are to evaluate the role of recently formed antibody secreting plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM) in these processes, and to define the cytokines that recently formed and long-lived plasma cells employ to avoid cell death. To achieve these objectives we will: 1) Define the role of newly formed BM PCs in long-lived antibody-mediated immunity;2) Define the role of newly formed and long-lived BM PCs in antibody-mediated autoimmunity;and 3) Define the roles of IL-5 and BAFF family cytokines in the maintenance of TI antigen-induced PCs. These studies will enhance knowledge of the processes underlying formation and maintenance of long-lived antibody responses to both non-self and self-antigens, and consequently inform strategies to optimize vaccination strategies and combat antibody mediated autoimmune disease.

Public Health Relevance

The factors underlying the generation of long-lived antibody secreting plasma cells are not understood. These studies will define the role of persisting antigen in long-lived antibody-mediated immunity, while also challenging the current dogma that T cell independent antigens fail to induce the formation of long-lived plasma cells. These studies have direct implications for therapeutic strategies to combat antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases or conversely to induce long-lived immunity.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI097590-02
Application #
8508182
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IMM-N (02))
Program Officer
Ferguson, Stacy E
Project Start
2012-07-15
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2013-07-01
Budget End
2014-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$366,351
Indirect Cost
$131,351
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
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Wilmore, Joel R; Allman, David (2017) Here, There, and Anywhere? Arguments for and against the Physical Plasma Cell Survival Niche. J Immunol 199:839-845
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Glatman Zaretsky, Arielle; Konradt, Christoph; Dépis, Fabien et al. (2017) T Regulatory Cells Support Plasma Cell Populations in the Bone Marrow. Cell Rep 18:1906-1916
Jones, Derek D; Gaudette, Brian T; Wilmore, Joel R et al. (2016) mTOR has distinct functions in generating versus sustaining humoral immunity. J Clin Invest 126:4250-4261
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Chernova, Irene; Jones, Derek D; Wilmore, Joel R et al. (2014) Lasting antibody responses are mediated by a combination of newly formed and established bone marrow plasma cells drawn from clonally distinct precursors. J Immunol 193:4971-9
Bortnick, Alexandra; Allman, David (2013) What is and what should always have been: long-lived plasma cells induced by T cell-independent antigens. J Immunol 190:5913-8