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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

In Vitro Differentiation Model of Human Normal Memory B Cells to Long-lived Plasma Cells
Published on: January 20, 2019
The effects of microenvironment and internal programming on plasma cell survival
Heather A Minges Wols1, Jill A Ippolito, Zheng Yu
1Department of Science and Mathematics, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL 60605, USA. hwols@colum.edu
Plasma cell (PC) longevity is determined by their environment, not intrinsic factors. Bone marrow stromal cells uniquely support long-lived plasma cells, but the exact mechanisms remain unknown.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Two plasma cell (PC) populations exist: short-lived (spleen/lymph nodes) and long-lived (bone marrow).
- Mechanisms differentiating PC lifespan are poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Compare intrinsic survival of short-lived versus long-lived PCs.
- Investigate the role of stromal microenvironments in PC longevity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an in vitro model to assess PC survival in supportive stromal environments.
- Co-cultured isolated PCs with stromal cells from bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes.
- Analyzed cytokine and chemokine expression in stromal cells.
Main Results:
- Isolated PCs exhibited similar intrinsic survival capacities regardless of tissue origin.
- Bone marrow stromal cells significantly enhanced PC survival compared to spleen or lymph node stromal cells.
- Bone marrow stromal cells expressed unique profiles of CXCL12, IL-7, and stem cell factor.
Conclusions:
- PC longevity is regulated by extrinsic factors within the microenvironment, favoring the bone marrow.
- The specific factors conferring the survival advantage to bone marrow stromal cells are yet to be identified.
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