title: Human B-lymphoid differentiation: normal versus malignant.
abstract: In this review the features of B-cell development and differentiation are described for the bone marrow and peripheral B-cell system, in particular that in lymph nodes follicles. These features show many similarities to those of malignant B-cell populations. Frequently the "normal counterparts" of malignant B lineage cells are seen in particularly high frequency in the foetal lymphoid tissues. For example, foetal bone marrow shows abundant CD10+ precursors and foetal lymph nodes contain many CD5+ B cells. These similarities contribute to a better understanding of B-cell malignancy. On the other hand they provide observations also useful in interpretation of immunodeficiency such as X-linked agammaglobulinaemia and lymph nodes after HIV-1 infection. The identification of target cells in lymphoid malignancies will be important for understanding the mechanism of tumour development because the gene alterations also show target cell specificity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, U.K.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Janossy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bofill
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schuurman
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology