title: Separation of human B lymphocytes on Helix pomatia A haemagglutinin into two major fractions differing in responsiveness to T-dependent mitogen (pokeweed mitogen) or antigen (tetanus toxoid).
abstract: A B-cell fraction consisting of 70% of cells carrying the B-cell-associated B1 antigen, 15-20% of M1+ non-B cells, and less than 3% of T cells was prepared from the peripheral blood of healthy human donors, previously vaccinated with tetanus toxoid (TT). As assessed by immunofluorescence after treatment with neuraminidase, approximately 40-50% of the B cells had surface structures binding to Helix pomatia A haemagglutinin (HP). The cells were separated into three fractions by affinity chromatography on HP conjugated to Sepharose (P, non-retained cells; EI, cells eluted with 0.1 mg/ml N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (D-GalNac); EII, cells eluted with 1 mg D-GalNac/ml). The majority of B cells in fraction EII were HP+ and were rich in cells expressing the B2 differentiation antigen. Sixty per cent of the B cells in this fraction also expressed the major HP-binding glycoprotein, gp 150. In the presence of autologous T cells, these B cells were strongly responsive to activation by either pokeweed mitogen (PWM) or antigen (TT), as reflected by differentiation into plasma cells, secretion of polyclonal IgG and IgM, or IgG anti-TT antibodies. In contrast, fraction P, which contained more than 90% HP-B cells, and which was partially depleted of B2+ cells, responded poorly or not at all to both PWM and TT. Fraction EI was a mixed fraction that responded in an intermediate fashion. When the preparations were depleted of contaminating non-B cells carrying the monocyte or large granular lymphocyte associated M1 antigen, their response to the two stimulating agents did not alter. The results suggest that HP+ B cells differ from HP-B cells in their responsiveness to T-cell signals. Fractionation on unsolubilized HP offers a simple and efficient way of separating B cells into at least two subsets differing in their responsiveness to T-cell-derived differentiation and maturation signals.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Robertsson
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hellström
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Axelsson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perlmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D010950:Plasma Cells; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000032:analysis; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C038095:Helix lectin; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D037102:Lectins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; C042967:helix lectin receptor