Is there a single differentiation pathway for all antibody-forming cells in the spleen?
N van Rooijen1, E Claassen1, P Eikelenboom2
1Immunocytochemistry Unit Medical Faculty, Departments of Histology, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
By incubating tissue sections with antigen (or hapten)-enzyme conjugates, followed by enzyme cytochemistry(1-4), N. van Rooijen and his colleagues have been able to study the development and localization of specific antibody-producing cells in the spleen of animals after a single intravenous antigen injection. Variations in this method(5-11) allowed them to compare the localization patterns of cells producing different antibodies and to determine simultaneously their Ig isotype. Studies on primary and secondary immune responses against thymus-dependent and thymus-independent antigens lead them to postulate that there is one 'differentiation pathway' for antibody-forming cells in the spleen, independent of the antigen and the type of immune response.
Related Concept Videos
B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Production of Formed Elements
Most HSCs commit to...
Multipotency of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells
Diversity of Antigen Receptors
Before encountering any antigen, lymphocytes express these receptors. On B cells, the antigen receptor is a membrane-bound antibody molecule called BCR; on T cells, it is a T cell receptor or TCR. B and T cell receptors are composed of two...


