title: Ly6C expression differentiates plasma cells from other B cell subsets in mice.
abstract: Plasma cell differentiation is induced in vitro by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation but can be blocked by including anti-CD40 antibodies. Using subtractive cDNA hybridization we have identified the cell surface protein Ly6C as differentially expressed on B cells stimulated with LPS only. Ly6C has been shown to be expressed on certain T cell subsets and on subsets of macrophages and NK cells, but not on resting B cells. We show that Ly6C is up-regulated upon LPS stimulation of B cells in vitro and that this up-regulation is blocked by anti-CD40 or anti-Ig antibodies. Furthermore, ELISPOT analysis of cells sorted by magnetic-activated cell sorting show that Ly6C is expressed on ex vivo plasma cells from the spleen and bone marrow. Flow cytometric analysis showed that Ly6C is expressed on splenic plasma cells as well as on lamina propria plasma cells. Finally, Ly6C cross-linking positively up-regulated the amount of immunoglobulin produced by LPS-stimulated splenic B cells in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Section for Immunology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. jens.wrammert@immuno.lu.se
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wrammert
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Källberg
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Agace
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leanderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D015870:Gene Expression; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000378:metabolism*; D010950:Plasma Cells; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008934:Mitogens; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols