CD5 mRNA expression and auto-antibody production in early human B cells immortalized by EBV

A number of studies have suggested that lymphocytes producing polyreactive antibodies belong to the CD5+ B-cell subset. In this study we have examined CD5 at the cell surface and mRNA levels in EBV-driven cord blood and fetal liver clones previously characterized in terms of their antibody specificities. We show that EBV-immortalized cells can express surface CD5, and that some of the clones not expressing surface CD5 express it at the mRNA level. The complete absence of CD5 mRNA in some polyreactive clones is consistent with the proposition that the production of auto-antibodies and multispecific antibodies is not restricted to the CD5+ B-cell subset.