IL-10-producing B220+CD11c- APC in mouse spleen.
APC acting at the early stages of an immune response can shape the nature of that response. Such APC will include dendritic cells (DCs) but may also include populations of B cells such as marginal zone B cells in the spleen. In this study, we analyze APC populations in mouse spleen and compare the phenotype and function of B220(+)CD11c(-) populations with those of CD11c(+) spleen DC subsets. Low-density B220(+) cells had morphology similar to DCs and, like DCs, they could stimulate naive T cells, and expressed high levels of MHC and costimulatory molecules. However, the majority of the B220(+) cells appeared to be of B cell lineage as demonstrated by coexpression of CD19 and surface Ig, and by their absence from RAG-2(-/-) mice. The phenotype of these DC-like B cells was consistent with that of B cells in the marginal zone of the spleen. On bacterial stimulation, they preferentially produced IL-10 in contrast to the DCs, which produced IL-12. Conventional B cells did not produce IL-10. The DC-like B cells could be induced to express low levels of the DC marker CD11c with maturational stimuli. A minority of the B220(+)CD11c(-) low-density cells did not express CD19 and surface Ig and may be a DC subset; this population also produced IL-10 on bacterial stimulation. B220(+) APC in mouse spleen that stimulate naive T cells and preferentially produce IL-10 may be involved in activating regulatory immune responses.
Burke
Fiona
F
Antigen Presentation Research Group, Faculty of Medicine. Imperial College London, Harrow, United Kingdom.
Stagg
Andrew J
AJ
Bedford
Penelope A
PA
English
Nicholas
N
Knight
Stella C
SC
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D039521:CD11c Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010641:Phenotype; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*
D039521:CD11c Antigen; D016753:Interleukin-10; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens