title: Characterization of B cells in human thymus.
abstract: The surface characteristics of B cells present in the human thymus were investigated. Cytofluorometrical and immunohistological studies, using anti-human IgM or anti-B cell monoclonal antibodies (mAbs; anti-Leu 12Ab, anti-Leu 16Ab, or L26), revealed that a small number of B cells are present in the human thymus. The thymic B cells were detected only in a low-density cell population, whereas in a high-density cell fraction, only T cells were found. In 15 cases, all of which the thymi were histologically normal, the percentages of B cells in the low-density fraction were 0.28% to 50% (6.8% in average), and Leu 1+ (CD5+) B cells in the low-density fraction were 0.1% to 26% (3.5% in average); approximately 50% of the thymic B cells were Leu 1+ B cells. These results indicate that B cells, especially Leu 1 (CD5)+ B cells, are also present in the human thymus, as suggested from our previous reports on mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumamoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nango
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Than
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kagawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikehara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011205:Povidone; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018956:CD5 Antigens; C016039:Percoll; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011205:Povidone