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Isolation and Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine Small Intestinal Lymphocytes
Published on: May 8, 2016
A unique B2 B cell subset in the intestine.
Yasuyo Shimomura1, Atsuhiro Ogawa, Mayumi Kawada
1Experimental Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|June 4, 2008
Summary
Researchers identified a novel subset of B cells in the intestine. These unique B cells, crucial for mucosal immunity, expand during inflammation and develop via an alternative pathway.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Over 80% of activated B cells reside in mucosal tissues like the intestine.
- Intestinal B cells, particularly IgM(+) B cells, remain poorly characterized regarding phenotype and origin.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize a unique subset of intestinal B cells.
- To elucidate the developmental origins and properties of these novel B cells.
Main Methods:
- Phenotypic analysis using surface markers (AA4.1, CD21, CD23, MHC class II).
- Assessment of somatic hypermutation frequency and cytokine production (interleukin-12p70).
- Investigation of developmental pathways and dependence on T cell help, spleen, and gut-associated lymphoid tissues.
Main Results:
- A unique subset of intestinal B cells with an AA4.1(-)CD21(-)CD23(-)MHC class II(bright) phenotype was identified.
- These B cells exhibit low somatic hypermutation and can produce interleukin-12p70.
- They originate from immature B2 cells and naive B cells, developing antigen-independently and BAFF-dependently without T cell help.
- Their expansion occurs in the mucosa, even without spleen or gut-associated lymphoid tissues, and increases during inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Discovery of a previously unknown intestinal B cell subset with distinct characteristics.
- Identification of an alternative peripheral B cell maturation pathway leading to tissue-specific B cells.
- These findings offer insights into mucosal immunity and B cell development in inflammatory conditions.
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