Abstract
Type B T cells recognize peptide-MHC class II (pMHCII) isoforms that are structurally distinct from those recognized by conventional type A T cells. These alternative type B conformers result from peptide loading in the absence of HLA-DM. Type A conformers are more stable than type B pMHCII conformers but bind the same peptide in the same register. Here, we show that interaction of Salmonella Typhimurium with bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) isolated from C3H/HeNCr1 mice results in enhanced presentation of peptide Ag to type B T cells. The effect could be mimicked by purified PAMPs, the most potent of which were curdlan and zymosan, β-(1,3)-glucan-containing polymers that are recognized by Dectin-1. Blocking of Dectin-1 with Ab and laminarin inhibited the induction of the type B T-cell response by BMDCs, confirming its role as a PRR for S. Typhimurium. Splenic DCs (sDCs) expressed Dectin-1 but were refractive to the induction of type B responses by S. Typhimurium and curdlan. Type B T cells have been shown to escape thymic tolerance and to transfer pathology in an autoimmune disease model. The induction of type B responses by gram-negative bacteria provides a mechanism by which autoreactive T cells may be produced during infection.