Antibodies to Protein but Not Glycolipid Structures Are Important for Host Defense against Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Antibody responses to correlate with pulmonary clearance. However, -specific IgG antibodies can cross-react with the myelin glycolipid galactocerebroside (GalC) and cause neurological disorders. We assessed whether antiglycolipid antibody formation is part of the physiological immune response to We show that antibodies against proteins and glycolipids arise in serum of -infected children and mice. Although antibodies to glycolipids were mainly IgG, anti-GalC antibodies were only IgM. B-1a cells, shown to aid in protection against pathogen-derived glycolipids, are lacking in Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk)-deficient mice. -infected Btk-deficient mice developed -specific IgG responses to proteins but not to glycolipids, including GalC. The equal recovery from infection in Btk-deficient and wild-type mice suggests that pulmonary clearance is predominantly mediated by IgG reactive with proteins and that glycolipid-specific IgG or IgM is not essential. These data will guide the development of -targeting vaccines that avoid the induction of neurotoxic antibodies.