B cell development in the spleen takes place in discrete steps and is determined by the quality of B cell receptor-derived signals.
Only mature B lymphocytes can enter the lymphoid follicles of spleen and lymph nodes and thus efficiently participate in the immune response. Mature, long-lived B lymphocytes derive from short-lived precursors generated in the bone marrow. We show that selection into the mature pool is an active process and takes place in the spleen. Two populations of splenic B cells were identified as precursors for mature B cells. Transitional B cells of type 1 (T1) are recent immigrants from the bone marrow. They develop into the transitional B cells of type 2 (T2), which are cycling and found exclusively in the primary follicles of the spleen. Mature B cells can be generated from T1 or T2 B cells. Mice with genetic deletions of elements participating in the B cell receptor signaling cascade display developmental arrest at the T1 or T2 stage. The analysis of these defects showed that the development of T2 and mature B cells from T1 precursors requires defined qualitative and quantitative signals derived from the B cell receptor and that the induction of longevity and maturation requires different signals.
Loder
F
F
Department of Molecular Immunology, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Mutschler
B
B
Ray
R J
RJ
Paige
C J
CJ
Sideras
P
P
Torres
R
R
Lamers
M C
MC
Carsetti
R
R
D000818:Animals; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002453:Cell Cycle; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D054562:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*
D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D054562:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1