title: Antigen-induced changes in B cell subsets in lymph nodes: analysis by dual fluorescence flow cytofluorometry.
abstract: Changes in the representation and surface phenotype of defined B cell subsets in murine lymph nodes stimulated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin or sheep red blood cells have been analyzed by two-color immunofluorescence fluorocytometric analysis. Shortly after immunization with either antigen there is a dramatic increase in both the frequency and absolute number of IgM+, IgD+ B cells, which is followed by the formation of germinal centers. Germinal center cells, as soon as they appear on day 3 after primary immunization, bind high levels of peanut agglutinin, bear low levels of surface IgM but no detectable surface IgD, and are characterized by lack of staining with MEL-14, a monoclonal antibody which recognizes a lymphocyte surface receptor involved in lymphocyte homing. The level of I-A and H-2K region-encoded surface antigens on early germinal center cells is higher than on PNAlo B cells. During the first 7 days of the germinal centers there is a progressive decrease in the average level of H-2K but not of Ia antigens. A similar decrease was observed for ThB. It is confirmed that the germinal center cell population contains the majority of antigen-binding cells in the stimulated lymph node. These findings indicate that B cells are recruited nonspecifically to antigen-stimulated lymph nodes, and that the antigen-specific cells then selectively participate in the formation of germinal centers where they undergo specific differentiation events.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kraal
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Gallatin
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Weissman
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Butcher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D007114:Immunization; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens