T Cell Production of IFNγ in Response to TLR7/IL-12 Stimulates Optimal B Cell Responses to Viruses

Abstract

Knowledge of the processes that underlie IgG subclass switching could inform strategies designed to counteract infections and autoimmunity. Here we show that TLR7 ligands induce subsets of memory CD4 and CD8 T cells to secrete interferon γ (IFNγ) in the absence of antigen receptor stimulation. In turn, TLR ligation and IFNγ cause B cells to express the transcription factor, T-bet, and to switch immunoglobulin production to IgG2a/c. Absence of TLR7 in T cells leads to the impaired T-bet expression in B cells and subsequent inefficient IgG2a isotype switching both in vitro and during the infection with Friend virus in vivo. Our results reveal a surprising mechanism of antiviral IgG subclass switching through T-cell intrinsic TLR7/IL-12 signaling.