title: 17Beta-estradiol expands IgA-producing B cells in mice deficient for the mu chain.
abstract: Oestrogen is not only a sex hormone but also an important regulator of the immune system. Expression of the heavy chain of IgM (mu) is essential for B-cell differentiation. However, a small number of IgA-positive B cells can be found in mice lacking the mu chain (muMT-/-). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oestrogen on this alternative B-cell pathway in muMT-/- mice. Our results clearly demonstrate that oestrogen increases the frequency of IgA-producing B cells in muMT-/- mice in both bone marrow and spleen cells. We also show that mature IgM-producing B cells are not required for oestrogen-mediated suppression of granulocyte-mediated inflammation or thymic involution. In conclusion, we demonstrate that 17beta-estradiol benzoate increases the frequency of IgA-producing B cells in muMT-/- mice, suggesting that oestrogen can influence the alternative B-cell pathway found in muMT-/- mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institution of Medicine, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. marie.lagerquist@medic.gu.se
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lagerquist
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Erlandsson
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Islander
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holmdahl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carlsten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004958:Estradiol / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains; D004958:Estradiol