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Abstract
Conventional models suggest that long-term antibody responses are maintained by the
continuous differentiation of memory B cells into antibody-secreting plasma cells.
This is based on the notion that plasma cells are short-lived and need to be continually
replenished by memory B cells. We examined the issue of plasma cell longevity by following
the persistence of LCMV-specific antibody and plasma cell numbers after in vivo depletion
of memory B cells and by adoptive transfer of virus-specific plasma cells into naive
mice. The results show that a substantial fraction of plasma cells can survive and
continue to secrete antibody for extended periods of time (>1 year) in the absence
of any detectable memory B cells. This study documents the existence of long-lived
plasma cells and demonstrates a new mechanism by which humoral immunity is maintained.