title: Cutting edge: differential sequestration of plasma membrane-associated B cell antigen receptor in mature and immature B cells into glycosphingolipid-enriched domains.
abstract: Glycosphingolipid-enriched domains (GEDs) are believed to act as platforms for transduction of B cell Ag receptor (BCR)-induced signals from the cell surface. We sought to study whether differential sequestration of BCR into GEDs may contribute to the described intrinsic signaling differences between mature and immature B cells. In this study we found that mature B cells copolarize the BCR with GEDs following BCR aggregation, whereas transitional immature B cells do not. Although anti-BCR treatment leads to receptor aggregation by immature stage B cells, the aggregated complexes do not colocalize with GEDs. We found this difference to be independent of the isotype of the receptor, thereby associating this difference in BCR-GED colocalization to the developmental stage of the B cell. These findings suggest a structural basis for the developmentally regulated differences observed in Ag receptor-mediated signal transduction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Baumeister
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Monroe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D007106:Immune Sera; D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell