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Characterization of Thymus-dependent and Thymus-independent Immunoglobulin Isotype Responses in Mice Using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay
Published on: September 7, 2018
New markers for murine memory B cells that define mutated and unmutated subsets
Shannon M Anderson1, Mary M Tomayko, Anupama Ahuja
1Section of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|August 19, 2007
Summary
Murine memory B cells, often limited by cell numbers, were studied using transgenic mouse models. New markers revealed phenotypic and anatomic heterogeneity, challenging prior assumptions about memory B cell populations.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Mouse Models
Background:
- Murine memory B cell research is hindered by low cell counts and the absence of specific markers.
- Transgenic mouse models offer a solution by providing larger numbers of antigen-specific memory B cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel murine memory B cell markers.
- To investigate the phenotypic and anatomic heterogeneity of memory B cells.
- To challenge existing assumptions regarding memory B cell location and V region mutation status.
Main Methods:
- Utilized hapten-specific transgenic (Tg) mouse models for increased cell yields.
- Employed a 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) pulse-labeling strategy for cell tracking.
- Conducted comprehensive flow cytometric analysis to compare memory and naive B cells.
Main Results:
- Identified several new murine memory B cell markers.
- Discovered phenotypic heterogeneity, including an unmutated memory B cell subset expressing CD80 and CD35.
- Found anatomic heterogeneity, with BrdU(+) memory cells located in splenic follicles, not just the marginal zone.
Conclusions:
- Murine memory B cells exhibit significant phenotypic and anatomic heterogeneity.
- The presence of unmutated memory B cells and their distribution challenges previous understandings.
- This heterogeneity suggests diverse origins and/or functions within the memory B cell compartment.
