title: Effects of in utero alcohol exposure on B cell development in neonatal spleen and bone marrow.
abstract: The effects of in utero alcohol exposure on neonatal lymphopoiesis were examined in a murine model of fetal alcohol syndrome. At birth, both immature and mature B cells were decreased in the spleens of neonatal animals and these subpopulations of B cells did not recover to normal levels until 3-4 weeks of life. Pre-B cells and total B cells were decreased as well in the bone marrow of ethanol-exposed animals. By 3-4 weeks of life, the number of B cells in the bone marrow recovered to normal levels, but the pre-B cells remained below normal levels through 5 weeks of age. Furthermore, a recently described early B cell progenitor was reduced in frequency in ethanol-exposed neonates. Together, these data suggest that in utero exposure to ethanol can result in abnormalities in B cell development that may initiate at an early stage of B cell development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71130, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Moscatello
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Biber
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chervenak
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Wolcott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000276:immunology*; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*