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Updated: Feb 25, 2026
In Vitro Differentiation Model of Human Normal Memory B Cells to Long-lived Plasma Cells
Published on: January 20, 2019
Standing out from the crowd: How to identify plasma cells
Julie Tellier1,2, Stephen L Nutt1,2
1The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia.
New methods using Sca-1 and TACI cell surface markers offer improved identification of antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) in mice. These approaches overcome limitations of previous techniques, aiding research into immune responses and antibody production.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) are crucial for immunity but difficult to identify due to rarity and marker loss.
- Current methods, like CD138 and BLIMP-1, require reporter strains and have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and discuss novel, alternative methods for identifying all murine ASCs.
- To highlight the advantages of Sca-1 and TACI cell surface markers for ASC identification.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing antibodies against cell surface proteins Sca-1 and TACI for ASC identification in mice.
- Discussing findings in the context of murine and human ASC subsets' phenotypes and gene expression.
Main Results:
- Two independent studies present Sca-1 and TACI as effective markers for identifying murine ASCs.
- These methods provide alternatives to existing, more complex techniques.
Conclusions:
- Sca-1 and TACI offer practical advantages for identifying ASCs, advancing the study of humoral immunity.
- These findings contribute to a better understanding of ASC heterogeneity and function in both mice and humans.
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