Phenotypic and functional characterization of normal and malignant terminal B (plasma) cells

A number of antigens (Ags) are expressed on normal and malignant terminal B (plasma) cells, including plasma-cell, earlier B-cell, and non-B cell-Ags. These Ags, coupled with indirect and dual fluorochrome labelling techniques, permit characterization of normal and malignant in vitro and in vivo terminal B-cell differentiation. The majority (90%) of B cells within spleen bear Bl and lack PCA-1 Ags. As B cells differentiate to pokeweed mitogen in vitro, immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion precedes the appearance of cell surface PCA-1 and plasmacytoid morphology. Dual fluorescence cell sorting permits characterization of in vivo B-cell differentiation: Bl + PCA-1 + cells are more "differentiated" since they are more prevalent in lymph node than spleen, exhibit plasmacytoid morphology and maximal Ig secretion, and no longer respond to triggers of B-cell proliferation; in contrast, Bl + PCA-1-cells are lymphoid in morphology and may respond to triggers of B-cell proliferation as "resting" B cells. Similar studies of myeloma cells demonstrated that they may also include cells expressing plasma-cell, earlier B, and non-B cell Ags. Although they neither proliferated nor secreted Ig in vitro to G/M-CSF, G-CSF, M-CSF, IL-1, IL-1B, IL-2, or IL-4, proliferation without Ig secretion (Stimulation Index greater than or equal to 3.0) was induced to IL-6 in 6 of 10 patients (pts); to IL-3 (2 pts) and to IL-5 (2 pts).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)