title: Stage-specific alterations in murine B lymphopoiesis with age.
abstract: Although it is reported that B lymphopoiesis declines with age, the precursor stage(s) affected and the age of onset are ambiguous. Each progressive phase of B cell differentiation has distinct requirements; therefore, precise identification of the stage(s) that decline would yield insight into the age-related mechanisms affecting humoral immunity. We analysed the composition of B lineage cells of mice 1, 4, 12 and 24 months of age using flow cytometry. Numbers of prepro-B and pro-B cells were unchanged, and a profound decrease occurred only in the numbers of pre-B cells. This decrease occurred in two distinct phases: between 1 and 4 months and between 12 and 24 months. Notably, the numbers of newly formed B cells did not decline in parallel, suggesting that mechanisms are established to overcome the deficiency of pre-B cells. Since the age-related changes are limited to the pre-B cell stage, we hypothesized that the impairment acts at the pro-B to pre-B transition. We therefore evaluated whether the pro-B cells or the supporting stromal cells, which are necessary for normal progression of this stage, changed with age. The ability of pro-B cells to proliferate in the presence of stromal cells was reduced by 24 months of age, as was the ability of the stromal cells to support pro-B cell proliferation. In contrast, the ability to mature into IgM+ cells was unchanged. Thus, strategies that supplement the stromal environment may enhance B lymphopoiesis in aged animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Stephan
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Witte
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000502:physiology