Characterization of B cells in human thymus.
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.
Kumamoto
T
T
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
Inaba
M
M
Imamura
H
H
Nango
K
K
Adachi
Y
Y
Than
S
S
Inaba
K
K
Kagawa
T
T
Ikehara
S
S
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*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018956:CD5 Antigens; C016039:Percoll; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011205:Povidone