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Published on: July 2, 2013
RAG1 and RAG2 expression by B cell subsets from human tonsil and peripheral blood
H J Girschick1, A C Grammer, T Nanki
1Department of Internal Medicine, Harold C. Simmons Arthritis Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA.
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|December 21, 2000
Summary
Recombination-activating gene (RAG) expression in B cells is linked to germinal center reactions. Coordinate RAG mRNA expression is found in activated tonsil B cells and circulating memory B cells, not naive peripheral B cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- B cells undergo V(D)J recombination, a process crucial for adaptive immunity.
- The potential for secondary V(D)J recombination in germinal center (GC) B cells is debated.
- Recombination-activating genes (RAG1 and RAG2) are essential for V(D)J recombination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of RAG1 and RAG2 mRNA in various B cell subsets.
- To determine if B cells in germinal centers or peripheral blood express RAG mRNA.
- To clarify the role of RAG expression in B cell activation and differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Semiquantitative analysis of RAG1 and RAG2 mRNA expression in human tonsil and peripheral blood B cells.
- Examination of individual B cell subsets including naive, GC founder, centroblasts, centrocytes, and memory B cells.
- Detection of B cell activation marker CD69 and IgG mRNA for cell characterization.
Main Results:
- RAG1 mRNA was detected in all tonsil B cell subsets, with highest levels in naive B cells.
- RAG2 mRNA was found in tonsil naive B cells, centrocytes, and some centroblasts.
- Coordinate RAG1 and RAG2 mRNA expression was observed in activated naive tonsil B cells and circulating postswitch memory B cells.
Conclusions:
- Coordinate RAG expression is not typical in naive peripheral B cells but is upregulated in activated tonsil B cells.
- RAG1 and RAG2 are expressed in most germinal center B cell components, excluding centroblasts.
- Circulating memory B cells can express RAG mRNA, suggesting a role in secondary recombination or immune surveillance.
