title: Reference values for B cell subpopulations from infancy to adulthood.
abstract: The composition of the peripheral blood lymphocyte compartment underlies developmental changes during ontogeny. Recently, several new B cell populations have been characterized which were suggested to develop in an age-dependent manner. However, age-dependent reference values for distinct B cell populations have rarely been reported. Therefore, we have characterized developmental changes in peripheral B cell populations from infancy to adulthood in order to define age-dependent reference values. Using a flow cytometric approach we analysed the frequencies as well as the absolute counts of naive, switched and non-switched memory B cells, CD27-negative memory B cells, transitional B cells as well as CD21(low) CD38(low) B cells from neonates up to the age of 50 years. Most of the B cell subsets showed age-dependent developmental changes: while the peripheral B cell pool during infancy is characterized predominantly by transitional and naive B cells, the fraction of switched and non-switched memory B cells increases gradually with age. CD21(low) CD38(low) B cells as well as plasmablasts do not exhibit developmental changes. In summary, we could demonstrate particular changes in the peripheral blood B cell compartment during ontogeny. This study provides reference values of different B cell subpopulations offering comparability for studies addressing disturbed peripheral B cell development in immunodeficiency, autoimmunity or B cell reconstitution following cell-depleting therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Würzburg, Germany. morbach_h@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morbach
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Eichhorn
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Liese
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Girschick
mesh_terms: D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000378:metabolism; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051927:CD24 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000378:metabolism; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007223:Infant; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018941:Antigens, CD19; D051927:CD24 Antigen; C497889:CD24 protein, human; D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; C516769:PTPRC protein, human; C498154:CD38 protein, human; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1