title: Characterization of thymic stromal-derived lymphopoietin (TSLP) in murine B cell development in vitro.
abstract: B cell development is dependent on both direct interactions with stromal cells and their secreted cytokines. The precise mechanisms by which these interactions regulate B cell differentiation are currently unknown. We report here that a novel growth factor thymic stromal-derived lymphopoietin (TSLP) can replace the activity of interleukin-7 (IL-7) in supporting B cell development in vitro. TSLP was found to promote the proliferation and differentiation of committed B220+ B cell progenitors from day 15 fetal liver. Phenotypic analysis of these cells revealed that they are at the pro-B cell stage of differentiation and express cell surface markers characteristic of pro-B cells cultured in IL-7. TSLP can replace the activity of IL-7 in supporting the progression of B lymphocytes from uncommitted bipotential precursors. In the absence of either TSLP or IL-7, the progeny of cells that give rise to mature B lymphocytes fail to develop from these bipotential precursors. Moreover, TSLP can substitute for IL-7 in supporting the sustained proliferative response exhibited by B cell progenitors from CBA/N mice. Together these results show that TSLP can replace the requirement for IL-7 during in vitro B cell development.
authors.affiliation: Wellesley Hospital Research Institute, University of Toronto, Canada. Ray@WHRI.ON.CA
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Furlonger
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Paige
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015851:Interleukin-7; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens