The lambda B cell repertoire of kappa-deficient mice.
Analysis of the B cell repertoire is complicated by the huge diversity inherent in the germ line determined combinatory. Making use of knockout technology, kappa-deficient mice have been obtained. They constitute a shrewd model to follow the expression of an Ig minilocus, such as the lambda one, in the normal condition compared with classical transgenic models. Indeed, in contrast to wild type mice, in which only 5% of lambda B cells are produced, these mutant mice exclusively produce lambda positive B cells. Although, the lambda locus is well characterized and has a relatively simple organization, the mechanistic and selective pressures that govern its utilization are still poorly understood. The analysis of the lambda B cell repertoire in kappa-deficient mice, should therefore bring more conclusive informations. Here we present the lambda subtype distribution in the various cellular compartments of the kappa-deficient mice, and discuss the rules that can be responsible for this distribution. Our recent data indicate that the lambda subtype proportions in the bone marrow and the spleen result, for the major part, from mechanistic processes (i.e., recombinase accessibility, production of V-J functional joint and H/L pairings) while the lambda proportions found in the peritoneal cavity ensue from selective processes. Finally, the capacity to respond to various antigens is discussed from such a generated lambda B cell repertoire.
Sanchez
P
P
Département d'Immunologie, Institut Pasteur (URA CNRS 1961 and Université Pierre et Marie Curie), Paris, France. psanchez@pasteur.fr
Rueff-Juy
D
D
Boudinot
P
P
Hachemi-Rachedi
S
S
Cazenave
P A
PA
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation
D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains