Normal Lymphocyte Development but Delayed Humoral Immune Response in CD81-null Mice

CD81 is a cell surface molecule expressed on many cell types and associated with the CD19/ CD21/Leu13 signal-transducing complex on B cells. A recent report implies that CD81 expression on thymic stromal cells is important in the maturation of thymocytes from CD4(−) CD8(−) to CD4(+)CD8(+). However, we have produced CD81-null mice by gene targeting, and find that they undergo normal development of thymocytes and express normal numbers of T cells. B cells are also found in normal numbers in the spleen, blood, and peritoneal cavity of CD81-null mice, but they express a lower level of CD19 compared to heterozygous littermates. Finally, early antibody responses to the protein antigen ovalbumin are weaker in CD81null mice compared to their heterozygous littermates. This is consistent with the proposed role of the CD19/CD21/CD81-signaling complex in lowering the threshold for B cell responses. These results show that CD81 is not required for maturation of T cells, but is important for optimal expression of CD19 on B cells and optimal stimulation of antibody production.