The physiology of bcl-2 expression in murine B lymphocytes.
Quantitation of bcl-2 gene expression in B-lineage lymphocytes from normal adult mice allows the identification of four cell populations, characterized by successive three- to fivefold increases in average mRNA levels: bone marrow pre-B cells, bone marrow B cells, splenic B cells and long-lived splenic B cells. Thus, in line with previous experiments using overexpression systems, a correlation between longevity and levels of bcl-2 mRNA exists also in the physiology of B-lineage cells. The data are compatible with a quantitative regulation of expression, possibly determined at selective differentiation steps. No difference in bcl-2 expression was detected by comparing splenic IgD+ with IgD- B cells, while distinctly low levels of bcl-2 mRNA were scored in peritoneal CD5+ and CD5- B cells. These observations indicate that the reported persistence of peritoneal B cells may be controlled by mechanisms other than bcl-2 gene expression.
Haury
M
M
Unité d'Immunobiologie, CNRS URA 359, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Freitas
A
A
Hermitte
V
V
Coutinho
A
A
Hibner
U
U
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger