title: Proliferative assays for B cell function.
abstract: This unit describes procedures for measuring the capacity of purified B cells to undergo proliferation. The method centers on the use of polyclonal stimulating agents (mitogens) because these agents stimulate the majority of B cells and because the alternative (measurement of antigen-induced proliferation) requires the laborious procedures of isolating antigen-specific B cells (which are otherwise present in too low a concentration in whole B cell populations). Cross-linking of the B cell antigen receptor, surface immunoglobulin (sIg), by specific antigen stimulates cells to proliferate prior to secreting Ig. For this purpose, monoclonal or heterologous affinity-purified anti-Ig antibodies are used. B cells can also be stimulated to proliferate by antigen-nonspecific reagents (mitogens), and it is also critical to study the role of these mitogens in B cell responses. Both of these systems have the advantage that the majority of B cells will be activated. The first basic protocol describes B cell proliferation induced by two commonly used stimulants--anti-Ig antibody (either anti-IgM or anti-IgD) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)--as measured by incorporation of [3H]thymidine into dividing cells. Alternate protocols describe other commonly used mitogens as well as other means of measuring cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mond
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunswick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007152:Immunologic Capping / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008934:Mitogens