The Role of T Cell Help in the Production of Antibodies Specific for Galα1–3Gal

The majority of xenoreactive natural Abs in humans recognize the carbohydrate Ag present on pig tissue, Galα1–3Galβ1–4GlcNAc-R (αGal), synthesized by the enzyme UDP galactose:β-d-galactosyl-1,4-N-acetyl-d-glucosaminide α(1–3)galactosyltransferase or αGT. Using αGT knockout mice (GT0 mice), which like humans produce serum Abs that bind αGal, we examined the role of T cells in production of Abs specific for αGal. GT0 mice were crossed with TCR-β knockout mice (TCR-β0) to generate double-knockout mice (GT0/TCR-β0). While GT0/TCR-β+ mice exhibited an age-dependent increase in the serum titer of natural Abs specific for αGal, a similar increase was not observed in GT0/TCR-β0 mice, and the titer of αGal-specific Abs in double knockouts was significantly lower than in age-matched GT0/TCR-β+ mice. Immunization with pig cells resulted in a significant increase in the serum titer of αGal-specific Abs in GT0/TCR-β+ mice, but had no effect on the level of αGal-specific serum Abs in GT0/TCR-β0 mice. Treatment of GT0/TCR-β+ mice with anti-CD40L Abs before immunization with pig cells prevented sensitization to αGal. Our data suggest that the majority of αGal-specific Abs are T cell dependent and that production of αGal-specific Abs after sensitization can be prevented by blocking costimulatory pathways.