title: V-gene usage and N-region insertions in B-1a, B-1b and conventional B cells.
abstract: The adult B-1a cell repertoire shows both substantial diversity and characteristic features. Recent studies using PCR to amplify variable-region transcripts from single, FACS-sorted B cells illuminate this apparent dichotomy. Although there is substantial diversity in the number of different rearrangements, characteristic patterns of VH-gene usage, combined with low use of N-region insertions when compared with conventional B cells, distinguish the B-1a repertoire. B-1b cells also have characteristic features of their own. These results are discussed in the context of key developmental and regulatory events which shape the B-1a and B-1b repertoires.
authors.affiliation: AmCell Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA 94089, USA.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kantor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018956:CD5 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018956:CD5 Antigens; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region