title: Characterization and activity of Fas ligand producing CD5⁺ B cells.
abstract: B lymphocytes make several contributions to immune regulation including production of antibodies with regulatory properties, release of immune suppressive cytokines, and expression of death-inducing ligands. A role for Fas ligand (FasL)-expressing "killer" B cells in regulating T helper cell survival and chronic inflammation has been demonstrated in animal models of schistosome worm infection, asthma, and autoimmune arthritis. Interestingly, a population of CD5(+) B cells found in the spleen and lungs of naïve mice constitutively expresses FasL and has potent killer function against T helper cells that is antigen-specific and FasL-dependent. Killer B cells therefore represent a novel target for immune modulation in many disease settings. Our laboratory has recently published methods of characterizing FasL(+) B cells and inducing their proliferation in vitro. This chapter will describe detailed methods of identifying and expanding killer B cells from mice, detecting FasL expression in B cells, and performing functional killing assays against antigen-specific TH cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 4043 Biomedical Sciences Research Bldg., 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA, sklundy@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Steven K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lundy
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Klinker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D018956:CD5 Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018956:CD5 Antigens; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D016753:Interleukin-10