Resource competition as a mechanism for B cell homeostasis.
Cellular competition for survival signals offers a cogent and appealing mechanism for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis [Raff, M. C. (1992) Nature (London) 356, 397-400]. We present a theoretical and experimental investigation of the role of competition for resources in the regulation of peripheral B cell numbers. We use formal ecological competition theory, mathematical models of interspecific competition, and competitive repopulation experiments to show that B cells must compete to persist in the periphery and that antigen forms a part of the resources over which B cells compete.
McLean
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Laboratoire des Dynamiques Lymphocytaires, Institut Pasteur, F-75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Rosado
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Agenes
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Vasconcellos
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Freitas
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AA
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018448:Models, Immunological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009113:Muramidase / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains; D009113:Muramidase