Primary antibody-forming cells and secondary B cells are generated from separate precursor cell subpopulations.
Two precursor cell subpopulations have been isolated from the spleen cells of nonimmune mice. The major B cell subpopulation binds high levels of the J11D monoclonal antibody and, upon T cell-dependent antigenic stimulation, gives rise to primary antibody-forming cell clones but not secondary B cells. A minority of the 10%-14% of Ia+ precursors that bind low levels of J11D (J11Dlo) also generate antibody-forming cell clones after primary stimulation. However, over 70% of J11Dlo precursors yield no primary antibody-forming cell clones but instead give rise to secondarily responsive B cells. The existence of a distinct precursor cell subpopulation that is responsible for the generation of B cell memory is further evidenced by the distribution of variable region clonotypes among J11Dlo primary precursors, which resembles the clonotype patterns of secondary B cells, and by the accumulation of somatic mutations in their clonal progeny.
Linton PJ
L
L
Department of Immunology, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, California 92037.
Decker
D J
DJ
Klinman
N R
NR
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D005784:Gene Amplification; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell