Characteristic features of B cells in murine cervical lymph nodes.
CONCLUSIONS
B cells in cervical lymph nodes correspond to typical conventional B cells (B-2).


OBJECTIVE
The special status of cervical lymph nodes in relation to the oropharynx, and the need to maintain the integrity of the oropharnygeal mucosal barrier, suggest the possibility that cervical lymph node B cells located in the oropharynx may behave differently from B cells located elsewhere. In this study we examined the symmetry or lack thereof between cervical lymph node B cells and other B-cell subsets.


METHODS
We isolated B cells from murine cervical lymph node tissue and evaluated them in vitro according to several criteria.


RESULTS
We found that cervical lymph node B cells expressed typical B-cell phenotypic markers and proliferated normally in response to mitogenic stimulation. They did not spontaneously secrete immunoglobulin and, in keeping with this, did not express elevated levels of either CD138 (Syndecan-1), a marker for plasma cells, or BLIMP-1, a putative master regulator of B-cell differentiation.
Yeo
Seung Geun
SG
Department of Otolaryngology, College of MedicineKyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
Tumang
Joseph R
JR
Rothstein
Thomas L
TL
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009333:Neck; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D012333:RNA, Messenger