title: Quantitation of rare memory B cell populations by two independent and complementary approaches.
abstract: Current methodology for quantitation of memory B cells (MBC) in clinical samples is limited and often does not allow for detection of multiple MBC specificities in a single assay. Here we describe two independent approaches to antigen-specific MBC quantitation. First, a sensitive flow cytometry (FC) assay was developed for simultaneous quantitation of two prototypical B cell antigens, tetanus and diphtheria. Second, an ELISA-based MBC limiting dilution assay (LDA) was developed that provides quantitative analysis of up to 8-12 different MBC frequencies from a single blood sample. Cross-validation studies indicated that MBC numbers measured by FC correlated significantly with the frequencies obtained by LDA (R(2)=0.92, p=0.0002). These two functionally distinct approaches will be useful for accurate quantitation of rare MBC populations specific for either simple antigens (e.g. tetanus and diphtheria) or complex antigens (e.g. vaccinia or other viruses), and is amenable for use in a variety of model systems.
authors.affiliation: Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA.
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Amanna
authors.forename: Mark K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Slifka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C