title: Phenotype and genotype of interfollicular large B cells, a subpopulation of lymphocytes often with dendritic morphology.
abstract: We describe large B cells, many of which have a stellate or dendritic morphology, found in the interfollicular T-cell-rich areas of human peripheral lymphoid tissue. These B cells probably require CD40/CD40 ligand signaling for their generation and have a unique phenotype and a post-germinal center pattern of immunoglobulin gene mutation. The only comparable B cell is the "asteroid" cell of the thymic medulla. Their anatomic location and pattern of gene mutation suggest that these cells may represent the cell of origin of some human large-cell lymphomas. Studies in experimental animals should help to elucidate the role of these cells in the immune response.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom. teresa.marafioti@ndcls.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marafioti
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Facchetti
authors.forename: Tim C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Diss
authors.forename: Ming-Qing
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Isaacson
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pozzobon
authors.forename: Stefano A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pileri
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Strickson
authors.forename: Soo-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: David Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000941:Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D005819:Genetic Markers; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D023201:CD40 Ligand