ABSTRACT
B cells in germinal centres are known to express carbohydrate antigen CD77 in human lymphoid tissues. The CD77 antigen is specifically recognized by Shiga-like toxins (SLTs) that are produced by enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7. To determine whether the binding subunits of Shiga-like toxin-1 (SLT-1B) could have adverse effects on the murine immune system when used as an immunogen, we investigated whether SLT-1B could bind to germinal centres of mouse lymphoid tissues. Frozen sections of peripheral lymph nodes and Peyer's patches from immunized mice were tested for the presence of SLT-1B-binding sites by immunohistological methods. Germinal centres were not stained with SLT-1B, while they were intensely stained with peanut agglutinin (PNA), another marker of germinal centres. On the other hand, SLT-1B specifically bound to renal tubules and collecting ducts in frozen sections of mouse kidney. This is consistent with results from human tissues. We also demonstrated that B220/PNA double-positive populations in lymph nodes from immunized mice exhibited only marginal staining with SLT-1B. The present results suggest that SLTs would not impede germinal centre functions of the murine immune system.