title: Cell surface expression of surrogate light chain (psi L) in the absence of mu on human pro-B cell lines and normal pro-B cells.
abstract: Surrogate light chains (psi L) encoded by lambda-like (lambda 5) and VpreB genes play a critical role in controlling the early steps of B cell differentiation. We prepared new anti-VpreB monoclonal antibodies (mAb) (3C7/6F6) which preferentially recognize the VpreB epitope at the cell surface of human cell lines that do not express the mu chain. These mAb provide the first characterization of human pro-B cell lines expressing surface psi L. We demonstrate that surface psi L expression is considerably enhanced upon interleukin-7 stimulation and that the psi L complex is formed independently of the Ig alpha/Ig beta heterodimer. Finally, using these antibodies, we confirm the existence of a normal pro-B cell population in human adult bone marrow. These cells are CD34+ CD38+ psi L+, do or do not express CD19, CD10, or both epitopes, and may represent the earliest cell population committed to B cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meffre
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fougereau
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Argenson
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aubaniac
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schiff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000032:analysis*; D054444:Immunoglobulin Light Chains, Surrogate; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains / Q000032:analysis*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D054444:Immunoglobulin Light Chains, Surrogate; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins