title: Heterogeneity of B-cells.
abstract: Two rat monoclonal antibodies, NIM-R2 and NIM-R3, were prepared that only recognize B-cells in murine secondary lymphoid tissues. Both showed differential reactivity in that they reacted most strongly with nonoverlapping populations of B-cells. They also reacted differentially with some cells of the primary lymphoid tissue, recognizing 90-95% of bone marrow cells, again in a nonoverlapping manner and with NIM-R2 accounting for twice as many cells as NIM-R3. The antibody NIM-R2, but not NIM-R3, also recognized thymocytes and red blood cells. The determinant recognized by NIM-R2 is of interest because it fluctuates at four defined stages of B-cell development: pre-B to immature B, activation of mature B, differentiation of memory cells, and differentiation of antibody-secreting cells. Particularly noteworthy was the differential reactivity of NIM-R2 with virgin and memory B-cells. Those cells that stained strongly with the antibody gave excellent primary responses, but were unable to transfer secondary responses, whereas weakly stained B-cells transferred memory, but could not generate primary antibody responses in vitro. Thus NIM-R2 recognized a cell-surface determinant that presumably decreases in density as primary B-cells differentiate into memory B-cells. A survey of sIg, I-A, Fc receptors, and major glycoproteins of B-cells from spleen, Peyer's patches, mesenteric lymph nodes, and peripheral lymph nodes failed to reveal any major differences between the cells from these different lymphoid organs.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000939:Epitopes; D006023:Glycoproteins