title: Visualization of the genesis and fate of isotype-switched B cells during a primary immune response.
abstract: The life history of isotype-switched B cells is unclear, in part, because of an inability to detect rare antigen-specific B cells at early times during the immune response. To address this issue, a small population of B cells carrying targeted antibody transgenes capable of class switching was monitored in immunized mice. After contacting helper T cells, the first switched B cells appeared in follicles rather than in the red pulp, as was expected. Later, some of the switched B cells transiently occupied the red pulp and marginal zone, whereas others persisted in germinal centers (GCs). Antigen-experienced IgM B cells were rarely found in GCs, indicating that these cells switched rapidly after entering GCs or did not persist in this environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, MMC334, 420 Delaware St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455,USA. papex001@umn.edu
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Pape
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kouskoff
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nemazee
authors.forename: H Lucy
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jason G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cyster
authors.forename: Lina E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Tze
authors.forename: Keli L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hippen
authors.forename: Timothy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Behrens
authors.forename: Marc K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009113:Muramidase / Q000276:immunology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010047:Ovalbumin; C421864:hen egg lysozyme; D009113:Muramidase