CD40L-null NKT cells provide B cell help for specific antibody responses

CD1d-binding glycolipids exert potent adjuvant effects on T-dependent Ab responses. The mechanisms include cognate interaction between CD1d-expressing B cells and TCR-expressing Type I CD1d-restricted natural killer T cells (NKTs). However, the critical NKT-derived factors that stimulate B cells are poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that CD1d-driven CD40L expression by NKT cells influences humoral immunity. Bone marrow chimeras with CD40L+/+ or CD40L−/− NKT cells were immunized with Ag plus CD1d ligand before measuring Ab responses. CD40L−/− NKT cells stimulated higher endpoint Ab titers than controls expressing CD40L. In contrast, immunization of CD40L−/− mice revealed that CD40L−/− NKT cells could not provide B cell help when Th cells lacked CD40L. We report that CD40L−/− NKT cells can provide help for Ab production and do so cooperatively with CD40L+/+ Th cells. We suggest that the manner in which NKT cells provide B cell help is distinct from that of Th cells.