title: Functional properties of human B cell subpopulations defined by monoclonal antibodies HB4 and FMC7.
abstract: Human B cell subpopulations can be distinguished by the expression of B cell-associated antigens. mAb directed against these structures allow the isolation and subsequent functional analysis of such subsets. Blood B cells from healthy individuals were separated on basis of the expression of the antigens recognized by the mAb HB4 and FMC7. The B cells present in the thus obtained populations were analyzed for their ability to secrete IgM and IgG after stimulation in vitro with polyclonal B cell activators (PWM, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I), antigens (tetanus toxoid, type 4 pneumococcal polysaccharides), and soluble B cell differentiation factors. The results suggest that B cells capable of Ig and anti-tetanus toxoid or anti-type 4 pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody production after in vitro culture are localized in a relative small B cell subpopulation carrying the FMC7 determinant but lacking HB4. This holds true for both the IgM- and IgG-secreting B cells. These data further suggest that the majority of B cells found in the blood and which can be characterized as being surface IgM+/IgD+ HB4+ are immature cells unable to respond to differentiation-inducing signals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bloem
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chand
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dollekamp
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Rijkers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000502:physiology; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; C027158:polysaccharide C-substance (Streptococcus)