title: Plasma cell ontogeny defined by quantitative changes in blimp-1 expression.
abstract: Plasma cells comprise a population of terminally differentiated B cells that are dependent on the transcriptional regulator B lymphocyte--induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp-1) for their development. We have introduced a gfp reporter into the Blimp-1 locus and shown that heterozygous mice express the green fluorescent protein in all antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, these cells display considerable heterogeneity in surface phenotype, immunoglobulin secretion rate, and Blimp-1 expression levels. Importantly, analysis of in vivo ASCs induced by immunization reveals a developmental pathway in which increasing levels of Blimp-1 expression define developmental stages of plasma cell differentiation that have many phenotypic and molecular correlates. Thus, maturation from transient plasmablast to long-lived ASCs in bone marrow is predicated on quantitative increases in Blimp-1 expression.
authors.affiliation: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, 3050, Australia.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kallies
authors.forename: Jhagvaral
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hasbold
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Tarlinton
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: Lynn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Corcoran
authors.forename: Philip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Hodgkin
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Nutt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D000074462:Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C513258:Prdm1 protein, mouse; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000074462:Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1