Linking age-related defects in B lymphopoiesis to the aging of hematopoietic stem cells.
B cell genesis declines with age, but at what stage and why remains unclear. Previous studies attribute the decline in B cell production in aged mice to both environmental and cell-intrinsic defects that impact mid-to-late stream B cell precursors. However, mounting evidence suggests that the aging process may also negatively affect the earliest phases of B cell development. We review past studies on the B cells and aging question, discuss recent data suggesting that age-associated defects in B cell development reflect deficiencies in hematopoietic stem cell-proximal progenitor pools, and provide an integrative model that will hopefully facilitate further studies into this complex problem.
Miller
Juli P
JP
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 269 John Morgan Building, 36th and Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Allman
David
D
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000276:immunology*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D038041:Lymphopoiesis / Q000276:immunology*