Adhesion of human B cells to follicular dendritic cells involves both the lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1/intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and very late antigen 4/vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 pathways.
Presentation of antigen in the form of immune complexes to B lymphocytes by follicular dendritic cells (FDC) is considered to be a central step in the generation of memory B cells. During this process, which takes place in the microenvironment of the germinal center, B cells and FDC are in close physical contact. In the present study, we have explored the molecular basis of FDC-B cell interaction by using FDC and B cells derived from human tonsils. We found that FDC express high levels of the adhesion receptors intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1 [CD54]) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), while the B lymphocytes express lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1 [CD11a/18]), very late antigen 4 (VLA-4 [CD49d], and CD44. Furthermore, we established that both the LFA-1/ICAM-1 and VLA-4/VCAM-1 adhesion pathways are involved in FDC-B lymphocyte binding, and therefore, these pathways might be essential in affinity selection of B cells and in the formation of B memory cells.
Koopman
G
G
Department of Pathology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Parmentier
H K
HK
Schuurman
H J
HJ
Newman
W
W
Meijer
C J
CJ
Pals
S T
ST
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D016029:Receptors, Very Late Antigen / Q000502:physiology*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D016029:Receptors, Very Late Antigen; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1