title: VCAM-1-positive stromal cells from human bone marrow producing cytokines for B lineage progenitors and for plasma cells: SDF-1, flt3L, and BAFF.
abstract: The differentiation of B lymphocytes in the bone marrow is guided by the surrounding microenvironment determined by cytokines, adhesion molecules, and the extracellular matrix. These microenvironmental factors are mainly provided by stromal cells. In this paper, we report the identification of a VCAM-1-positive stromal cell population by flow cytometry. This population showed the expression of cell surface markers known to be present on stromal cells (CD10, CD13, CD90, CD105) and had a fibroblastoid phenotype in vitro. Single cell RT-PCR analysis of its cytokine expression pattern revealed transcripts for haematopoietic cytokines important for either the early B lymphopoiesis like flt3L or the survival of long-lived plasma cells like BAFF or both processes like SDF-1. Whereas SDF-1 transcripts were detectable in all VCAM-1-positive cells, flt3L and BAFF were only expressed by some cells suggesting the putative existence of different subpopulations with distinct functional properties. In summary, the VCAM-1-positive cell population seems to be a candidate stromal cell population supporting either developing B cells and/or long-lived plasma cells in human bone marrow.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology, German Arthritis Research Center, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel H S
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Schaumann
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuischer
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ebell
authors.forename: Rudolf A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Manz
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lauster
mesh_terms: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000235:genetics; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D016207:Cytokines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C084881:flt3 ligand protein