B cell maturation in the chicken Harderian gland

We have characterized maturation of B lymphocytes in the chicken Harderian gland. Expression of Ig genes was studied by using lambda L and mu H chain-specific DNA probes. In unstimulated chickens, the concentration of mu H chain and lambda L chain mRNA in the Harderian gland was observed to be greater than 8 times higher than in the bursa of Fabricius or spleen. By using in situ hybridization, the plasma cells expressing mu mRNA were located in central area of the gland packed around the tubules. Antibodies produced by the Harderian plasma cells were measured from the tears before and after antigenic stimulation. In unstimulated chickens high levels of total IgM, IgA, and IgG were observed. After ocular stimulation with tetanus toxoid, specific antitetanus IgG and IgA antibodies appeared in the tears but IgM antibodies were barely detectable. These results indicate that after antigenic stimulation the Harderian B cells rapidly mature through IgM secretion to the production of IgG or IgA. Southern blot analysis of the Harderian total genomic DNA showed strong rearrangement in the lambda L chain locus. In contrast, the band indicating major rearrangement in the mu H chain locus gave a very poor hybridization signal, indicating deletion of C mu genes in the Harderian gland DNA. As a conclusion, our present data indicate for the Harderian gland a role in terminal B cell differentiation and Ig class switch.