title: 3C8 antigen is a novel protein expressed by human follicular dendritic cells.
abstract: Although the pivotal role of follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in humoral immune responses has been demonstrated, little is known at the molecular level of how FDCs contribute to the organogenesis, B cell differentiation, and regulation of T cell functions in the germinal center. By immunizing with FDC-like cells, we have developed a monoclonal antibody (MAb), which stains the germinal centers in tonsil section. In the current study, the target cell of MAb 3C8 was identified as FDC by confocal scanning fluorescence microscopy. Unlike other MAbs against FDC, MAb 3C8 does not cross-react with bone marrow-derived blood cells. Amino acid sequencing of NH(2)-terminal region of immunoprecipitated 3C8 Ag reveals that 3C8 is a novel FDC protein. Further studies of 3C8 molecule will shed light on the cellular origin of FDC and reveal unknown functions of FDC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Vascular System Research Center, Kangwon National University College of Medicine, Chunchon, Kangwon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In Yong
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwon Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Jongseon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choe
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020566:Dendritic Cells, Follicular / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins