title: The ontogeny and functional characteristics of human B-1 (CD5+ B) cells.
abstract: We demonstrate that, on average, greater than 90% of B lymphocytes in fetal spleen express CD5 at gestational ages of 17-23 weeks. Similarly, CD5+ B cells (B-1 cells) are the major B cell subset in umbilical cord blood. These findings depend on the optimization of fluorochrome conjugated anti-CD5 reagents for multiparameter fluorescent-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. From infancy through childhood the percentage of B-1 cells gradually diminishes in both spleen and peripheral blood. Stable adult levels, 25-35% of the total B cell population, are reached in late adolescence. The decrease in the percentage of B-1 cells in spleen is accompanied by an increase in conventional (CD5-) B cells, keeping the percentage of total B cells per mononuclear cells relatively constant. In contrast, in peripheral blood, the concentration of both B-1 cells and total B cells decreases, while T cells increase. At the functional level, we show that polyreactive IgM autoantibodies are produced by FACS-sorted CD5high B cells, but not by CD5- B cells from adolescent spleen. In contrast, fetal splenic CD5high and CD5- B cells appear functionally uniform, both producing IgM autoantibodies that are typical of B-1 cells. The apparent level of CD5- B cells in fetal spleen, on average 10% of total B cells, may still result from limitations of our reagent. The prominence of B-1 cells in fetal spleen and cord blood, the gradual reduction of B-1 cells with increasing age, and its characteristic repertoire, all suggest a role for this cell type in immunologically immature hosts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University, CA 94305.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kantor
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bieber
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Stall
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Herzenberg
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Teng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M