Antibodies to Protein but Not Glycolipid Structures Are Important for Host Defense against Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Meyer Sauteur PMLaboratory of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
de Bruijn ACJMLaboratory of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Graça CLaboratory of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Tio-Gillen APDepartment of Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Estevão SCLaboratory of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Hoogenboezem TLaboratory of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Hendriks RWDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Berger CDivision of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Jacobs BCDepartment of Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
van Rossum AMCDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Huizinga RDepartment of Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Unger WWJLaboratory of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands w.unger@erasmusmc.nl.
English
Antibody responses to Mycoplasma pneumoniae correlate with pulmonary M. pneumoniae clearance. However, M. pneumoniae-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 M. pneumoniae We show that antibodies against M. pneumoniae proteins and glycolipids arise in serum of M. pneumoniae-infected children and mice. Although antibodies to M. pneumoniae 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. M. pneumoniae-infected Btk-deficient mice developed M. pneumoniae-specific IgG responses to M. pneumoniae proteins but not to M. pneumoniae glycolipids, including GalC. The equal recovery from M. pneumoniae infection in Btk-deficient and wild-type mice suggests that pulmonary M. pneumoniae clearance is predominantly mediated by IgG reactive with M. pneumoniae proteins and that M. pneumoniae glycolipid-specific IgG or IgM is not essential. These data will guide the development of M. pneumoniae-targeting vaccines that avoid the induction of neurotoxic antibodies.