Regulation of CD27 expression in the course of germinal center B cell differentiation: the pivotal role of IL-10.
The molecules of the TNF superfamily and their receptors play crucial roles in the humoral immune response. In view of the powerful effects on germinal center (GC) B cell differentiation, the expression of these molecules should be tightly regulated. In this study, we have undertaken a detailed analysis of the regulation of CD27 expression following the differentiation of GC B cells supported by a follicular dendritic cell line. We show that CD27 is differentially expressed on B cell subpopulations at different stages of differentiation. Naive B cells are virtually negative but plasma cells generated in vivo are strongly positive for CD27 expression. GC B cells that exhibit a moderate expression of CD27 remarkably up-regulate the expression levels of this molecule when they differentiate into plasma cells, which is induced by IL-10. The up-regulation of CD27 expression correlates with that of CD38. Therefore, high expression of CD27 molecules emerges as a specific marker for plasma cells. Our results suggest an important role for CD27 in the differentiation of GC B cells into plasma cells. Evaluation of CD27 expression levels may be of a clinical significance in assessment of B cell maturation in immunocompromised patients.
Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA.
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Jung
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Choe
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Li
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Choi
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000502:physiology*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000032:analysis*
D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7; D016753:Interleukin-10