Quantitative Analysis of B-Cell Subpopulations in Bone Marrow by Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry is a technology that rapidly detects and measures physical and chemical characteristics of single cells or particles. It is a powerful tool for many areas of research, in particular, immunology, which allows for simultaneous analysis of different immune cell populations in a tissue. Here we describe the procedures to quantify and/or purify various B fractions in mouse bone marrows by flow cytometry using their signature surface markers. This method is useful to study B-cell development during steady-state or emergency hematopoiesis such as viral infections.