T-Cell-Independent Responses toBorrelia burgdorferiAre Critical for Protective Immunity and Resolution of Lyme Disease

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Abstract
The humoral immune response toBorrelia burgdorferiduring persistent infection is critical to both protective and disease-resolving immunity. This study examined the role of B cells in the absence of T cells during these events, using mice with selected immune dysfunctions. At 6 weeks postinfection, an interval at which arthritis resolves in immunocompetent mice, arthritis severity was equivalent among immunocompetent mice, αβ+-T-cell-deficient mice, and mice lacking both αβ+and γδ+T cells. Arthritis severity was worse in SCID mice, which lack T and B lymphocytes. Carditis regressed in immunocompetent mice and those lacking both αβ+and γδ+T cells but remained active in mice lacking only αβ+T cells and in SCID mice. Mice lacking only αβ+T cells and those lacking both αβ+and γδ+T cells generated immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG3B. burgdorferi-reactive antibodies. Sera from infected immunocompetent mice, mice lacking only αβ+T cells, and mice lacking both αβ+and γδ+T cells passively protected naive mice against challenge inoculation withB. burgdorferi. However, only sera from infected immunocompetent mice, but not sera from infected T-cell-deficient mice, were able to resolve arthritis when passively transferred to actively infected SCID mice. These data demonstrate that B-cell activation during a T-cell-independent response may be critical for resolution of arthritis and carditis and that protective antibodies are generated during this response.