High numbers of B cells correlates with increases in extracellular matrix components in cathepsin-L mutant mice

G. CAMICIA, M. RICARDI, G. LOMBARDI, H. COSTA, J. MUNDINIANO, D. LORENZO, G. CABRERA, R. MEISS, I. PIAZZON AND I. NEPOMNASCHY

13th International Congress of Immunology - ICI

Monduzzi Editore

Lugar: Bologna; Año: 2007;

CTSLnkt mice harbor a mutation in the cathepsin L gene that induces early impairments in the positive selection of CD4+ thymocytes. CTSLnkt spleens show decreased numbers of CD4+ T cells, whereas CD4+ lymph node numbers are normal. Correlatively, extracellular matrix (ECM) components were increased in LN but not in the spleen. Here we show that the number of CD19+ cells is increased in the LN of CTSLnkt mice, while normal numbers of B cells were observed in the spleen. A reduction on the titers of IgG1 and IgG2a when immunized with OVA/IFA were recorded. However, normal titers of IgG3 were detected in response to the Tindependent NP-Ficoll antigen. These results indicate that the CTSLnkt mutation -probably by inducing increases in LN ECM components- affects the immune system influencing both the T and B cell compartments.