title: In situ lacZ retrovirus-marked lymphocytes define a B cell microenvironment in the lymph node medulla.
abstract: A recombinant nonreplicating retroviral vector bearing the Escherichia coli lacZ indicator gene was used to mark a population of B cells in situ in murine lymphoid tissue. The retrovirus was surgically injected into popliteal lymph nodes during the primary immune response to DNP-CGG when B cell proliferation in the germinal centers was maximal. LacZ+ cells were initially detected in the perivascular medullary interstitium, where they expanded and persisted up to 2 weeks following retrovirus injection. Migrant lacZ+ B cells were detected in the spleen 3-18 weeks following immunization and resided in the red pulp or marginal zones. Two-color flow cytometric analysis using a fluorogenic substrate for beta-galactosidase revealed that lacZ+ cells bear kappa light chains and that at least 50% of these cells bound the hapten, DNP. Based on their location, life span, migratory capacity, antigenic specificity, and surface immunoglobulin density, lacZ+ cells define a distinct nonfollicular B cell population associated with other late developmental stages of B lymphocytes, including memory and plasma cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, UCLA School of Medicine 90024.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Krall
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007763:Lac Operon; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D004247:DNA