title: CD27+ B cells in human lymphatic organs: re-evaluating the splenic marginal zone.
abstract: The marginal zone of human spleens is regarded as an organ-specific region harbouring sessile memory B cells. This opinion has arisen by extrapolating from results obtained in mice and rats. Detection of CD27(+) B cells in situ now revealed similarities among the most superficial region of B-cell follicles in human spleens, reactive lymph nodes, inflamed appendices, tonsils and terminal ilea. The follicular surface in these organs consists of small naïve immunoglobulin D (IgD)(+) CD27(-) B cells predominating in an inner area and larger IgD(+/-) CD27(+) B cells prevailing in a more superficial position. CD27(+) B cells may, however, also occupy the entire follicular periphery around the germinal centre. Together with additional peculiarities this distribution indicates a fundamental microanatomical difference among the human and rodent splenic white pulp. We hypothesize that the follicular periphery represents a recirculation compartment both for naïve and memory/natural reactive B cells in all human secondary lymphatic organs. This assumption implies a difference in recirculation behaviour among human and rodent B memory cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Marburg, Germany. steinigb@staff.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Birte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Steiniger
authors.forename: Eva-Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Timphus
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Barth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001065:Appendix / Q000276:immunology; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7